Mathematics in Python are not correct

[Erik Max Francis]

wxPythoner at gmail.com wrote:

> Have a look at this:
> 
>>>> -123**0
> -1
> 
> 
> The result is not correct, because every number (positive or negative)
> raised to the power of 0 is ALWAYS 1 (a positive number 1 that is).
> 
> The problem is that Python parses -123**0 as -(123**0), not as
> (-123)**0.
> 
> I suggest making the Python parser omit the negative sign if a
> negative number is raised to the power of 0. That way the result will
> always be a positive 1, which is the mathematically correct result.
> 
> This is a rare case when the parser is fooled, but it must be fixed in
> order to produce the correct mathematical result.

Others have pointed out why this is not a parse error, as it's parsed as 
-(123**0), not (-123)**0, which is apparently what you meant.

Note, however, that even normal mathematical conventions follow this 
same rule.  If you were to write

	  2
	-x

as part of a mathematical equation, this means (translated to Python) 
-(x**2), not (-x)**2.

-- 
Erik Max Francis && max at alcyone.com && http://www.alcyone.com/max/
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