Which of the following statements is **true**?

Question

Accepted Answer

B. $-3^{2} = -9$

**Order-of-operations distinction**: without parentheses, the unary minus is applied **after** the exponent.
- $-3^{2} = -(3^{2}) = -(9) = -9$. ✓ ($\Rightarrow$ B)
- $(-3)^{2} = (-3)(-3) = +9$.
So $(-3)^{2} = +9$ and $-3^{2} = -9$. They are **not** equal.
- Trap A is the opposite-sign mistake.
- Trap C falsely equates the two.
- Trap D misorders the operations.
This distinction (parentheses change exponent grouping) is a recurring GRE quant trap.

Answer

$(-3)^{2} = -9$

Answer

$(-3)^{2} = -3^{2}$

Answer

$-3^{2} = 9$