(-) precedence

[David Hayden]

(12-13-2022 06:12 PM)Thomas Okken Wrote:  

(12-13-2022 03:59 PM)David Hayden Wrote:  we have an understandable aversion to saying that to square the number -2.3, you must put parentheses around it (-2.3)²)

That "we" does not include just about every single math textbook I have ever laid eyes on. See my example in the second post of this thread for a very typical example...

Math textbooks use the convention we have, which is a very good thing. My point is that the convention is less than ideal because it very easily leads to the problem that's the subject of this thread.