?5-2^2 1st 2^2 = 4 2nd 5-4 = 1 ?-2^2 1st -2^2 = 4The - sign in 5-2^2 is subtraction wile in -2^2 it is a unary sign making 2 a negative number. In the second equation the - (unary sign) has precedence over the exponentiation while in the 5-2^2 the - is subtraction and it has a lower precedence from exponentiation so 2 is squared to 4 and then the subtraction is done 5-4 = 1.