The Sonic Center

The Lounge => Wikkity! => Topic started by: ybbun on April 22, 2004, 03:51:09 am

Title: -4² = -16
Post by: ybbun on April 22, 2004, 03:51:09 am
It IS true.

Any LUEsers here?
Title: -4² = -16
Post by: SadisticMystic on April 22, 2004, 05:20:18 am
- = unary operator and takes precedence over everything

No.
Title: -4² = -16
Post by: yse on April 22, 2004, 05:30:02 am
I'm not a LUEser, but

-4^2 = -(4^2) = -(16) = -16

Quite simple, actually.
Title: -4² = -16
Post by: F-Man on April 22, 2004, 12:13:44 pm
Quote
I'm not a LUEser, but

-4^2 = -(4^2) = -(16) = -16

Quite simple, actually.
...But -4^2 does not equal -(4^2), as far as I know.

Oh and I am proud of not being a LUEser, kthx.
Title: -4² = -16
Post by: Rolken on April 22, 2004, 05:37:01 pm
ybbun is correct; (-4)² = 16, -4² = -16. Mathematics is not computer science, unary operators are irrelevant.
Title: -4² = -16
Post by: ybbun on April 23, 2004, 03:05:00 am
2 or 3 topics with the same title as this got over 200 replies in LUE.
I can't go there any more, but I don't really care.
Title: -4² = -16
Post by: Popo Nana on April 23, 2004, 06:34:44 am
www.ohnoes.org (http://www.ohnoes.org)
Title: -4² = -16
Post by: CosmicFalcon on April 23, 2004, 12:38:32 pm
Ow my ears.

Anyways...

-(4^2) = -16
-4^2 =! -(4^2)
(-4^2) = -4^2
-4^2 = 16

(http://www.hmz.stuph.org/ranimg/normal_stfu.jpg)

 :D
Title: -4² = -16
Post by: Rolken on April 23, 2004, 10:42:33 pm
Quote
-(4^2) = -16
-4^2 =! -(4^2)
(-4^2) = -4^2
-4^2 = 16
Still wrong, because mathematics is still not computer science; "-" functions the same way whether it is being used as a negative or for subtraction, the only difference being that the former method has an implied 0 in front (ie, -5 = 0-5).

There is a reason it works this way. Consider this:

x = -4²
y = 2-4²

I think most people will agree that y = 2 - (4²) = -14, because powers take precedence over additive operations. It would be disjointed for the first example to work differently because of the lack of a number (or if you don't think so, work with polynomials more and you'll change your mind).

Actually, that's a good example as well - nobody construes -x² as being (-x)², right? Well, why should it work any differently with a number as with a symbol? No other operations change how they work based on whether they operate on numbers or symbols.
Title: -4² = -16
Post by: zac-a-maniac on May 25, 2004, 03:19:17 am
I thought I was smart at maths cause i know what 2111squared is and I'm in year 5 but this is weird.
Title: -4² = -16
Post by: Taco on May 25, 2004, 08:08:25 am
They are talking about college math or something

I'm only in geometry...

so...

*steps away*

BTW, Theorems are no fun  :D
Title: -4² = -16
Post by: F-Man on May 25, 2004, 10:37:05 am
Quote
I thought I was smart at maths cause i know what 2111squared is and I'm in year 5 but this is weird.
Yeah... but this topic was dead, you didn't have to revive it just so we realise you're only 10 years old...
Title: -4² = -16
Post by: Chaos Angel 73 on July 23, 2004, 08:08:54 pm
It is true...