Re: TIB: A stupid question
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Re: TIB: A stupid question
In a message dated 99-05-18 16:51:57 EDT, you write:
> This is not so much a programming question as it is a math-logic question
> that happens to involve my calculator. Please bear with me, it'll just
take
>
> a minute:
> Unless I am wrong, the square of a negative number is positive, because
it's
>
> a negative number times itself. My calculator begs to differ. When I
input
>
> -3 x -3 it gives me what I'm pretty sure is the proper answer: +9. (and I
> know that the '+' isn't neccessary there, but I'm trying to illustrate a
> point). However, when I input -3^2 (that's to be read as "negative three
> squared" -- can't do superscripts on my email program), it gives me -9.
Is
> there something I'm just not getting here? Please, my math level is about
> remedial, so I feel pretty stupid anyway..but, thanks to anyone who cares.
> ~Alysha
It gives you a -9 for "-3^2" because the calc does the exponent operation
first. so your command looks like this to the calc: (-1)(3^2) -> (-1)(9) ->
(-9). There ya go, and im glad to be of help, cya...
Jason_K