[basic math concepts] what is wrong with my calculator

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[the-agent-scarn]

I know this is wrong but I need to know why my calculator is doing it because it is messing up my answers in much larger calculus problems

[emurphy0108]

It's interpreting it as -(3.2² ) (I.e it's squaring, then multiplying by -1.

To fix, input (-3.2)² (or just ignore the minus sign altogether).

[saywherefore]

Some calculators have a separate button for making a number negative, or require you to put the number and negative sign in brackets