Originally Posted By: paul
Quote:
Did you cut-n-paste your expressions into the web page?
What were the answers?


I didnt cut-n-paste I typed them in.
2 ft^2 * 2 ft^2 =

I even tried 2 ft squared * 2 ft squared =

and got the same 4 ft^4 result below !!!


Quote:
4 ft^4 (feet to the fourth)


4 anythings ^4 = 256 anythings

also it doesnt equal 256 anythings ^4




Well. At least you did it. This is the same answer that ANY scientist, engineer, or mathematician on the planet would give you. The problem with doing things your way is this -
you end up with things being equal that can't possibly actually BE equal AND for sufficiently complex problems you will get inconsistencies.

The advantage of using the standard way is that it is ENTIRELY consistent.

Originally Posted By: paul

4 anythings ^4 = 256 anythings

No. The fourth power only applies to the "anythings," not the first 4.

(4 anythings) ^4 = 256 anythings^4

4 anythings^4 = 4 (anythings^4)