>>>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.
>
>
>Metin,
>
>This is not algebra
>
>The minus sign in the first expression is a binary operator.
>In the second expression, it's a unary operator
>
>The unary minus has higher precedence than the exponent
>The binary minus has lower precedence than the exponent
>
>No bug

you say

?5-2^2

different than

?-2^2+5

that can't acceptable...