[Tutor] a puzzle about -3**2 vs (-3)**2

[Jose Amoreira]

On 07/31/2015 11:36 AM, Alan Gauld wrote:
> On 31/07/15 10:55, Jose Amoreira wrote:
>
>> Given the precedence rules already mentioned by Alan and Todd, the
>> results of the operations you showed us are exactly as expected. You'll
>> get the same results if you try with a pocket calculator or using any
>> other programming language or scientific package.
>
> The point I was making is that you may NOT get the same results in any
> other language. Each language designer is free to define his/her own
> precedence rules. Most try to follow the rules of math, but some do not
> (like Lisp using prefix notation rather than infix). Several languages
> evaluate purely left to right, at least 1 goes from right to left.
>
> In programming you have to learn the  language and not expect it to
> conform to any preconceived ideas of how it *should* work.
>

Yes, you are right, Alan. That expectation is often the source of much 
frustration when learning a new language.
But, for this particular application, this particular language even 
conforms to those general preconceived ideas... And I'm glad it does!

:)