Video Transcript
Evaluate π₯ to the π§ power minus
π§ to the π₯ power, where π₯ equals four and π§ equals three.
Weβre given the algebraic
expression π₯ to the π§ power minus π§ to the π₯ power. Itβs possible at this point that
you might think π₯ to the π§ power minus π§ to the π₯ power must be zero. However, this is not true. π₯ to the π§ power does not equal
π§ to the π₯ power. They are not additive inverses of
each other. And we can confirm this by plugging
in the values that we were given for π₯ and π§. Since we know that π₯ equals four
and π§ equals three, our first term will be four cubed and our second term will be
three to the fourth power. Four cubed is equal to 64, and
three to the fourth power equals 81. This expression would then be 64
minus 81, which equals negative 17. And we see here that four cubed, π₯
to the π§ power, does not have the same value as three to the fourth power, π§ to
the π₯ power.
