>>>>-2**2
>>>>
>>>>what the answer... I lost my bet with my secondary schoolgirl daughter... :(
>>>4
>>
>>VFP says 4 but online math calculator, my math. eng. friend and my daughter say -4... :(
>
>Probably it has been said already as I am not following the thread, but -2**2 = -2*-2 =4

Nope: -2**2 is the same as -1*2**2 so, by order or precedence, the answer is -4.

See http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/69058.html