-(3)^2 should be -9 and not +9

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G

Guest

Excel 2003 returns +9 when the correct answer is -9. Obviously this is a
specific example of a general calc error.
 
Nope, bad syntax by you.

Try -(3^2) = -9

-(3)^2 is equivelant to -3^2 which correctly calulates to 9 (-3*-3)

OK?

Cheers,
O
 
mdeand said:
Excel 2003 returns +9 when the correct answer is -9. Obviously this
is a specific example of a general calc error.
Click to expand...

Ahhhh.... help us....

If you have a spare few minutes, you may wish to peruse the following
thread from last year (watch out for the link wrapping in your
newsreader):

http://groups.google.co.nz/groups?h...r=&selm=VJROc.4%24975.1%40fe2.columbus.rr.com

Or this (same thing):

http://tinyurl.com/5t69s

The first 160 or so posts are quite good, but the quality of debate
flagged a little as it approached the 180 post mark.

Enjoy!

Alan.
 
Hi
I think you're wrong as does Matlab, Kumon and the text I consulted. With
-(3)^2 the order of operation is to square the bracketed expression first.
Hope this helps.
 
I wasn't referring to Mathematics but to Excel. I stand by my Bad Syntax
comment! The issue as to whether Excel is correct is, as we can see, highly
debatable!! ;o)

Thanks
O
 
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