Re: [Phys-L] [External] math notation puzzles

["Don" <dgpolvani@gmail.com>]

My Excel (Excel 2013) gives -9 and 300 for Cases 1 and 2.
Don

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Phys-l [mailto:phys-l-bounces@mail.phys-l.org] On Behalf Of
> LaMontagne, Bob
> Sent: Wednesday, February 6, 2019 1:27 PM
> To: Phys-L@Phys-L.org
> Subject: Re: [Phys-L] [External] math notation puzzles
>
> Excel gives +9 and 25.
>
>
> 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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