That surprised me because I have always used parentheses so the issue never came up.
Bob at PC
________________________________
From: Phys-l <phys-l-bounces@mail.phys-l.org> on behalf of John Denker via Phys-l <phys-l@mail.phys-l.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 5, 2019 6:05:10 PM
To: Phys-L@Phys-L.org
Cc: John Denker
Subject: [External] [Phys-L] math notation puzzles
Some puzzle questions:
1) Some computer languages use ^ as the exponentiation
operator. In that case, what is the numerical value of:
-3^2
How do you know?
How sure are you?
2) Some computer languages use ** as the exponentiation
operator. In that case, what is the numerical value of:
-3**2
How do you know?
How sure are you?
3) What is the numerical value of:
3⋅3 + 4⋅4
How do you know?
How sure are you?
==============
For each question:
-- I have an answer in mind.
-- I expect that after the dust settles, there will be
near-universal agreement as to the right answer.
-- There is a reason for asking the question.
-- I have not done anything to make it trickier than it
needs to be.
-- You are warned that the question might not be as easy
as it initially appears. That is to say, there is a
certain amount of irreducible trickiness.
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