In Python
>>> i = 3
>>> -i**4
-81
Why is -i**4 not evaluated as (-i)**4, but as -(i**4)?
I suppose one could argue that raising to a power takes precedence over (implicit) multiplication of i with minus one (i.e. you should read -1*i**4).
But where I learned math, -i**n with n even and i positive, should come out positive.
The ** operator binds more tightly than the - operator does in Python. If you want to override that, you'd use parentheses, e.g. (-i)**4.
https://docs.python.org/2/reference/expressions.html#operator-precedence https://docs.python.org/3/reference/expressions.html#operator-precedence