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submitted 1 year ago by Toes@ani.social to c/196@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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[-] Limitless_screaming@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

No, you'd expect that -2^2 would equal 4, but calculators solve it as -(2)^2 not (-2)^2. But the case you mentioned is also pretty common.

[-] ReveredOxygen@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 year ago

if you've touched polynomials ever, you'd expect the exponent to be before the negation. If you write x³-x² you don't mean x³ + (-x)² = x³+x², you mean x³-(x²)

[-] 0ops@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago

I think they mean that you said the correct answer is -8 in your first comment. Typo?

[-] Limitless_screaming@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

I was taught that negative numbers should be written as (-2) with the parentheses when using exponents. So I assume that the calculators are doing it right, or maybe it's just a measure against calculators doing it wrong? I cannot be sure. Also-2 = 0-2 so -2^2 = 0-2^2.

[-] 0ops@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

No you misunderstand. I'm not talking about the negative. 2² = 4. But in your original comment you said -2² = -8 ? I think you meant -2² = -4

[-] Limitless_screaming@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago

Oh, right. It should have been -4. Thanks.

[-] 0ops@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago
[-] onion@feddit.de 1 points 1 year ago

My calculators have a separate sign button labeled "(–)"

[-] Limitless_screaming@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago

Mine have it too, but it doesn't change the results.

this post was submitted on 03 Dec 2023
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