Open Middle®
Directions: Using the integers -8 to 8 at most one time each, place an integer in each box to make the greatest possible value.
Hint
What are the best digits to use? How does a negative base affect the value? How does a negative exponent affect the value?
Answer
While students might think the answer is either 8^7 or 7^8, it’s actually (-8)^8.
Source: Robert Kaplinsky in Open Middle Math
