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I've found that most people will correctly do

1 - 4^2

The answer is -15.

So what is

0 - 4^2

Most will say -16.

To be consistent we must agree that -4^2 is -16 since it is the same thing as 0 - 4^2.

It takes a while for students to understand this. I still get calculus students who mess it up.



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