Re: TIB: A stupid question

To: ti-basic@lists.ticalc.org
Subject: Re: TIB: A stupid question
From: Jared173@aol.com
Date: Tue, 18 May 1999 17:20:47 EDT
Delivered-To: ti-basic-outgoing@towerguard.unix.edu.sollentuna.se
Delivered-To: ti-basic@lists.ticalc.org
Reply-To: ti-basic@lists.ticalc.org


In a message dated 5/18/99 3:51:57 PM Central Daylight Time, 
Lizard3796@aol.com writes:

> This is not so much a programming question as it is a math-logic question 
>  that happens to involve my calculator.  Please bear with me, it'll just 
take 
> 
>  a minute:
>  Unless I am wrong, the square of a negative number is positive, because 
it's 
> 
>  a negative number times itself.  My calculator begs to differ.  When I 
input 
> 
>  -3 x -3 it gives me what I'm pretty sure is the proper answer: +9.  (and I 
>  know that the '+' isn't neccessary there, but I'm trying to illustrate a 
>  point).  However, when I input -3^2 (that's to be read as "negative three 
>  squared" -- can't do superscripts on my email program), it gives me -9.  
Is 
>  there something I'm just not getting here?  Please, my math level is about 
>  remedial, so I feel pretty stupid anyway..but, thanks to anyone who cares.
>  ~Alysha

When you do -3^2 the calculator interprets it as -(3^2).  In order to get the 
negative under there so that the answer is positive nine, you need to put the 
parentheses in yourself: (-3)^2 so the calc knows that the negative is 
included when it squares the number.

-Jared C.
www.tivault.com