4 ms·

(-3)^4 != -(3^4) when ^ means exponentiation.

• pvg 16y ago
  It does for the expression given, silly. And again, in mathematical notation, unary - would take precedence over exponentiation so it's completely unclear what that person's example is supposed to mean and why it has upvotes.
  • ryanf 16y ago
    I was actually originally going to say -3 * 5 = -(3 * 5), as a joke. But from what I could find online, it looks like unary minus traditionally falls below exponentiation in the order of operations for math. See http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/53194.html http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/53194.html and Wikipedia: "In written or printed mathematics, the expression −3^2 is interpreted to mean −(3^2) = −9."
    • CamperBob 16y ago
      I think we have a QED here. :)
      • ryanf 16y ago
        Obviously there are some cases where you should use parentheses. The reference operator just seems like a strange place to draw the line. I mean, to me it seems like the least confusing part of the quoted line.