The ultimate issue

[Dr.Peterson]

Scratching my head on this one.
a = 4 b = -3

a – b²

I maintain that the way to solve this is
(4) – (-3)²
4 – (9)
-5

My colleague says the following is correct
(4) – (-3)²
4 + 3²
13

Please let me know what is the right answer, my way or my colleague's way.

Thank you!

You didn't state how your colleague was thinking, but possibly he saw to negatives in a row and thought the cancel, as they would in 4 - (-3). The trouble here is that in between them, logically, there is a squaring, which changes the sign. Ultimately, this would be an "order of operations" issue.

 

[mmm4444bot]

You didn't state how your colleague was thinking …

Ultimately, this would be an "order of operations" issue.

Maybe. Maybe not.

We don't know what they were thinking, but, if it was -9 for (-3)^2, then it might not be an order of operations issue for them. :cool:

 

[Dr.Peterson]

Maybe. Maybe not.

We don't know what they were thinking, but, if it was -9 for (-3)^2, then it might not be an order of operations issue for them. :cool:

That's exactly why I said "would" -- IF my guess was right.

 

[mmm4444bot]

Ultimately ?