to the power / exponent (math question)

Question

How would you read out loud the following expression, in Spanish? (I´m using ^ for the power symbol, because I can't type superscripts here very well.)

x^4 + x^3 + 3x^2 - x + (-5)

In English: "x to the fourth [power] plus x cubed plus three x squared minus x plus negative 5]

I asked one of my bilingual students and she said that "x squared" is "equis a la dos." Is this right and is there any other accepted way to say it?

Thanks!!

Answer 1

Creo que entiendo ahora, muchas gracias a todos.

Answer 2

Muy bien, ¿entonces se puede decir tambien, x^2 = equis al cuadro?

Shrek said:

When I was at High School and college at Mexico, many years ago, I used to say for the following expression: -X³ menos X al cubo

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Answer 3

When I was at High School and college at Mexico, many years ago, I used to say for the following expression:
-X³ menos X al cubo

Natasha said:

Thanks, that's what I needed!Two remaining questions:(1) How to say "negative five" -- cinco negativo''(2) How to say cubed -- is it "a la tercera potencia" or is there a special word?

Eddy said:

I have the following examples. Dont know if they are correct though.3 squared = 9 (tres al cuadrado son nueve)2 to the power 5 = 32 (dos a la quinta potencia son treinta y dos)square root of 16 = 4 (la raiz cuadrada de dieciséis es cuatro)

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Answer 4

Je je. Igual en inglés, los estudiantes en general no dirían .

AiFoS said:

"Equis a la dos" es una forma coloquial que no creo que aparezca en ningún libro de "mate". Aunque creo que es más común decir: "equis cuadrada" o "equis al cuadrado".

Pero tampoco esperaría que en una clase de "mate" algún compañero me dijera: "equis elevada a la segunda potencia" o "equis elevada al cuadrado".

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Answer 5

¡Muchas gracias!

AiFoS said:

Sin más reglas ni formas apropiadas de decir las cosas, en un día normal en la clase de matemáticas yo diría: "equis a la cuatro, más equis a la tres (equis al cubo), más tres equis cuadrada, menos equis, más menos cinco".

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Answer 6

I found it in the dictionary once it occurred to my daft brain to look under "cube:"

1. Cubicar, elevar a la tercera potencia. (Matemáticas)

' Cube root -> raíz cúbica

Thanks for all the help!!

Answer 7

Just found minus 3 could be (3 de menos)

Answer 8

Natasha said:

Thanks, that's what I needed!

Two remaining questions:

(1) How to say "negative five" -- cinco negativo'?

(2) How to say cubed -- is it "a la tercera potencia" or is there a special word?

Eddy said:

I have the following examples. Dont know if they are correct though. 3 squared = 9 (tres al cuadrado son nueve)

2 to the power 5 = 32 (dos a la quinta potencia son treinta y dos)

square root of 16 = 4 (la raiz cuadrada de dieciséis es cuatro)

Amazing, I do not have an example for negative numbers. Also, going by my previous example I am pretty sure it is as you have said, la tercera potencia.

Answer 9

Thanks, that's what I needed!

Two remaining questions:

(1) How to say "negative five" -- cinco negativo'?
(2) How to say cubed -- is it "a la tercera potencia" or is there a special word?

Eddy said:

I have the following examples. Dont know if they are correct though.

3 squared = 9 (tres al cuadrado son nueve)

2 to the power 5 = 32 (dos a la quinta potencia son treinta y dos)

square root of 16 = 4 (la raiz cuadrada de dieciséis es cuatro)

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Answer 10

I have the following examples. Dont know if they are correct though.

3 squared = 9 (tres al cuadrado son nueve)
2 to the power 5 = 32 (dos a la quinta potencia son treinta y dos)
square root of 16 = 4 (la raiz cuadrada de dieciséis es cuatro)