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RE: Please remind me why -3^2 = -9
Posted:
Nov 18, 2012 10:57 AM
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Not mentioned in previous responses to the question is the rationale for the conventional order of operations:
Exponents (powers) before Products (or divisions) before Sums (or subtractions), in the absence of parentheses (grouping symbols),
is convenience in writing polynomials.
ax^p+bx^q+..., where x is a free variable, is much easier to read than
(a(x^p))+(b(x^q))+...
Those familiar with APL notation or Excel formulas are surely aware of these issues.
That said, this forum should be open to any mathematical, pedagogical question without judgment about motives or intelligence.
Just my two cents.
________________________________________
From: owner-mathedcc@mathforum.org [owner-mathedcc@mathforum.org] on behalf of EddieC [info@kopworld.net]
Sent: Sunday, November 18, 2012 6:28 AM
To: mathedcc@mathforum.org
Subject: Re: Please remind me why -3^2 = -9
You're a teacher & you had to post this question?
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