In Excel the negation takes precedence over the power operator.

However, subtraction is a lower priority.
0-2^2
results in -4.

Does that help?


Regards,
Fred.

"Tim Walters" wrote in message
...
Shouldn't minus a squared number be a minus number? In Excel -2^2 = 4. To
keep it negative I have to write -(2^2). It's very easy to make mistakes
because I also work with Quattro Pro which works differently. Is there a
way to customize this in Excel so that -2^2 = -4?

Thanks.