Negative numbers with exponents in RPN

[trojdor]

(01-27-2021 07:59 PM)john gustaf stebbins Wrote:  Further testing this on the Prime I calculated 5-7 (using textbook mode). Then I copied the result of this calculation to the command line and applied x^2. The result was -4. So the prime is applying the square inside the negative symbol on a result that is clearly a negative number.

The Prime is not the only calculator I tried that made the same error.

In your example....if you first hit enter after you copy the result to the command line, you can then use ANS^2 to get the correct result.

You can also skip the entire copy/paste process by using the ANS key directly:
(textbook mode)
5-7 enter (shows -2)
ANS^2 (shows 4)

Interestingly, this (the ANS key) trick works correctly on HP, TI and Casio...