>>People before us have made that choice - I'm not saying it is bad nor that it is good - It's just the way it is
>
>The only problem I have is, that the definition was changed. We've discussed the problem here and find out the following
>
>Everybody means (learned?) that -2^2=4. The other would be explicit -1*2^2
>
>Those with children that run through this know the problem.
>
>So the mathematicans have changed the definition, school adopted it we are blamed.
>
>
>On a comp I have no problem with. It's normaly somewhere in the helpfile and a simple try teaches me more. I would never assume that a comp solves a formula the way I think.
>
>Agnes

hi Agnes,

I don't think the mathematicans have changed the definition - must have been like that for ages
-2^2 is still -4 in algebra. Must be when solving equations and moving -2^2 to the other side where it becomes +2^2

Maybe we have been working too long with computers - some have forgotten the basics of algebra

At some point (the fortran's age ?) a choice had to be made

It's just that when converting this into a line of code - you have to know what you do - isn't that exciting ?