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macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jun 14, 2010
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Try entering 0 - -2^2 on your calculator , most seem to give the wrong answer?

What's calc do you have , what's the result ?
 
4 on my Ti-84 Plus SE

But seriously, as strange as it sounds, your question is vague. Are you talking about 0 - (-2)^2 or 0 - -(2^2) or 0 (- -2)^2 , etc etc.

You need to know how your calculator works before you can use it. Depending on what the question is asking, I can get the 'right' answer.
 
The calculator is very strictly following order of operations as it knows them, whereas we are usually ignoring certain things. It's most likely giving you zero minus the opposite of 2 squared (4). Not zero minus negative two squared (-4).
 
Even simpler what is... -2^2

On a recent TI
[negative key ] [2] [squared] gives -4 .

On my old 80’s Sharp el506
[2] [negative key] [squared] gives 4 as expected.

Sure know how to use your calc, but what's the reasoning of new calcs?
It seems the [negative] key does not enter a negative number,
Instead it multiples a by -1... Forcing the use of brackets.
 
The calculator is very strictly following order of operations as it knows them, whereas we are usually ignoring certain things. It's most likely giving you zero minus the opposite of 2 squared (4). Not zero minus negative two squared (-4).

[0] [minus] [2] [squared] makes sense to be -4

But

[0] [minus] [negative] [2] [squared] should also be -4

Just look at the last entry in the display below,
algebraic entry was suppose to improve things?
 

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The hp 50g is slightly better in algebraic mode,
If [minus] [negative] keys are pressed in sequence the operator displayed changes to plus so its clear you need to use brackets but it still allows negative 2 squared to display an answer of -4.
 

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