document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1029972>Question 1029972</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I am disturbed by what I've been reading on websites that avow -1^2 = -1. This is completely absurd to me, as I would have sworn that a number's sign always travels with it when being raised with an exponent. Now, I have a BS in Engineering, and I've been a Computer Engineer for over 25 years and I can tell you that when it comes to computers, a number's sign ALWAYS travels with it, and any operation that is done acts on both that number and its sign.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "This may be the only time I've ever encountered a situation where a computer calculation deviates from a mathematical principle. Try the calculation on any calculator, spreadsheet, or computer program and it will yield a different result than what I'm reading on your website (and other 'algebra' websites).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Is this a shortcoming in computer technology?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Furthermore, can you tell me where a \"sign\" (positive or negative) fits into the order of operator precedence? Because up until tonight, I always thought it occurred FIRST. Parentheses->Exponents->Multiplication->Division->Addition->Subtraction. According to 'modern algebra' am I to assume that it resides between Exponents and Multiplication now?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Thank you!<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Darin </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #644880 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=solver91311><B>solver91311(24713)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=solver91311><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=solver91311><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=644880\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"+2\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Depends on what is meant by <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\Large -1^2\">.  To me, such an expression is ambiguous and could mean either <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\Large -(1)^2\"> which would, indeed, be equal to <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\Large -1\">, or it could mean <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\Large (-1)^2\"> which is equal to <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\Large 1\">.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now if you have an expression such as <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\Large -x^2\">, that is typically construed to mean <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\Large (-1)x^2\"> and is always <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\Large \leq\ 0\"> for all real numbers <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\Large x\">.  I surmise that the website you saw that made the assertion <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\Large -1^2\ =\ -1\"> was using the <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\Large -x^2\"> notation convention.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Please share the website url where you saw <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\Large -1^2\ =\ -1\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "John<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE e^{i\pi}\ +\ 1\ =\ 0\"><BR>\n" );
document.write( "My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\Large \ \\r\"> </SPAN>\n" );
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