What I have not seen printed in this tome is what the "-" means (how to interpret). The majority of the posts seem to interpret - as minus. The fact is that a number, preceeded by a minus (-) must be interpreted as "the opposite sign of..."

Realizing this, without pantlegs (para.), -3^2 must be interpreted as the opposite sign of 3^2, which would be -9.

Enjoy...

__________________
RM Smith
1988 560SL

"Where is it again that we are going, and why are we in this handbasket"?