negative number raised to even power

[Thomas Radtke]

(05-06-2015 02:37 PM)Wes Loewer Wrote:  I think I've got something that will convince any doubters...
Consider the function f(x)=exp(-x^2)

Interesting, but here we have a variable instead of a number. This leads me to this thought:

I find it indeed difficult to realize we have no other representation of a negative number than a positive one subtracted from zero. An implicitly atomic expression -2 looks quite attrative to consider, but is unfortunately no convention. Hence a new symbol (raised minus) has been introduced on some calculators like the 32SII.