>>Was there ever a conclusion here as to what is correct?
>>
>>I would of done it like this:
>>(-2)^2 = 4
>>
>
>try:
>
>?5-2^2
>
>?-2^2
>
>obviously VFP and Excel has a bug.

vbg

Good morning Metin,

no they do math based on other rules then you assume.

There is no rule that a programming language should solve a formula in the same rules as you have learned. The just need to follow there own definition.

As long as you find a way to get the result you need, all is fine.

To give you an example

you know boolean math uses disjunctive normal form and conjunctive normal form. The poor comp normaly may use one. Or it works without. So you have to transform your expression to get the right result.

Agnes