>No bug that I can see;
>

>?5-2^2
> 1st 2^2 = 4
> 2nd 5-4 = 1
>
>?-2^2
>  1st -2^2 = 4
>

>
>The - 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.
>
>I don't see any bug nor any inconsistency.

a=2

?-a^2

?5-a^2

?-a^2+5

if 5-a^2<>-a^2+5
  ?"there is a inconsistency, vfp sometimes get it left sometimes get it right, and vfp should obey math. rules"
endif