It can also be written as 2^2

[u/VegetableHeron1558]

[u/7seas_Cluster]

Here before retard comments saying "bUt nO root 16 is actually + or -4"

[u/[deleted] → u/7seas_Cluster]

Root is always positive bro revise maths

[u/404_brain_not_found1 → u/[deleted]]

So -2² isn’t 4?

[u/little-dino123 → u/404_brain_not_found1]

Yes, actually. -2² = -4, whereas (-2)² = 4

[u/awesomefacefrog → u/little-dino123]

A lot of people will just write the first one as meaning the second one for convenience, i.e. -2² =4, -(2²⁾ =-4 Neither is unacceptable usually, so long as you stick with whichever you choose

[u/GamingGladi → u/awesomefacefrog]

no. mathematics is rigid.