I think the calculator "sees" -3^2 like (-1)(3)(3)

I disagree that you can get multiple correct answers. There are rules that all arithmetic follows. Lacking parentheses, operations follow a default, order of operations. Follow the rules and will get THE correct answer, regardless of what google, or any other " authority" says.
One of the problems with "stretch" education is that it removes the discipline requuired to get correct answers.

You did it too!:D

-3^2(4)+7(2)/14(3)^2+(3-7)^2/8(2)-(-8)^2

I got

-36+9+1-64

Second group is the most ambigious as Brian noted.

Is it also 9?

This would be a good time to develop the habbit of meeting with your prof or a school study assistance dept to get the the ideas worked out early on... I guess that's what you are doing here but I think you might find the former two options more informitive.
Smart people like yourself are usually resistant to seeking help in their studies. but instruction is not always clear, and you'll get further faster and easier if you take as much clarification as you can.
I wish I was better at arithmetic... you're a lot closer to understanding this problem than I am... and the phrasing may be vague (as Brian said)

http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/55713.html

The eariler you start to seek out help when you are having a hitch, the better off you'll be but a lot of students won't do it because they want to learn on their own. Kind of silly when the reason for being in school is to learn as much as you can from 'teachers'

Good luck ... I know you'll be dancing on these problems graves in no time.

I had to. I thought "^" ment "the guy above my post"

Yeah, I dont know what ^ means, but I do financial math, probabilities, regressions. Aitn never seen a ^. Use RPN everyday with my trusty HP 12c. Define ^ and I'll cruch that algebra in a second.

But, as is said ( and I do teach college finance on occassion) IF your professor actually speaks English well, I'd ask him/her AFTER I made an attempt.

I keep a 12c in the car but I use my trusty 19BII at the office, its had a rough life so electrical tape keeps it together I'll post a pic of it.

Howie, you a finance guy too?

I try to be. :D

This is correct. -3^2 is parsed as -(3^2). Always.

I think, after a days consideration, that x^2 = x squared.

-3^2. Follow your "formula." "Exponents" comes before "subtraction."

I don't know why you bother to put "multiplication" before "division" and "addition" before "subtraction," but I suppose that this is modern eduction in action.

I don't do math, period.