Hello,
You are not using the right syntax. It has to do with priority of operations. raising a number to a power has priority over the negation sign (the change sign key). Th operations you are performing are treated as follows.
1. The square of 2 is calculated first (4),
2. then the negation (change sign) is performed, giving -4.
To get what you intend, namely the square of a negative number, you should enter the calculation as follows.
(-2)^2.
Since the parentheses have priority over everything else, the negation of 2 is calculated first, giving -2, then the power is performed next, and the result should be 4
If you need convincing, here is a screen capture.
Hope it helps.
disregard... figured it out.. I have to use the ( ) luverly...
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