General Discussions

**Decaf** · 02-10-2009, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juliensimon

blame it on the spaces

Actually it should be blamed on the chars/formatting used.

x + (-4 * -4) Would be easier to see, where as x -4^2 is harder.

A lesson learned,

**andrei155** · 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by serandfae

Spaces should have been put in to avoid confusion:

3 + 4 [ ( 6-9 ) - 8 ] - 4² + 2 [ 3( 2-5 ) + 9 ]

There's a HUGE amount of difference between x - 4² and x -4². It's the difference between x - 16 and 16x. An operator placed directly in front of a number is its value. Try punching that into a calculator both ways (with the spaces and without) and you'll see the difference.

tim

x -4² says x + -4², which is x - 4². If it was referring to multiplication it would have been either (x)(-4²) or -4²x

But I do see the confusion it might've caused.

**ultra** · 02-23-2009, 10:06 AM

3 + 4 [ ( 6-9 ) -8 ] -4² + 2 [ 3 ( 2-5 ) +9 ]
3+4 ( -3 -8 ) + 16 + 2 ( -9 + 9 )
3+4 ( -11) + 16 + 2 (0)
3-44+16
-25