[Issue 24271] Mathematical error in Calc, -4^2

[bu...@apache.org]

https://bz.apache.org/ooo/show_bug.cgi?id=24271

gwojnar@frostburg.edu changed:

           What    |Removed                     |Added
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 CC|                            |gwojnar@frostburg.edu

--- Comment #36 from gwojnar@frostburg.edu ---
This should be fixed, somehow.
I understand the argument that in -4^2+7, the leading sign indicates negation
rather than subtraction [UNLESS one says that by convention this means
0-4^2+7].
HOWEVER, with -x^2+7, the interpretation is different, and should definitely
mean -(x^2)+7.  I agree with an earlier poster that maintained that the
standard Gaussian Normal statistical expression e^(-x^2/2) should be accepted
as is without extra parentheses as e^(-(x^2)/2).  In my case, I was generating
formulae using Maple, then cutting & pasting them into an Open Calc ods
spreadsheet; Maple is a bit idiosyncratic about how it orders the various
addends in an expression, so even if my input to Maple was, e.g., "7-x^2",
there was a chance that the Maple output would read "-x^2+7" without any
forewarning.  It took me a long time to diagnose the trouble in my ods
spreadsheet and then to locate the several offending cases and de-bug them.

SUGGESTION: I suggest that the default Open Calc behavior should be as follows.
 If a formula begins with a "-" a pop-up window should appear presenting the
two main options (A) interpret leading "-t..." as "0-t...", and (B) interpret
[consistent with Excel] leading "-t..." as "(-t)...".  Further, it would be
nice to have check-boxes available to "Always interpret in this chosen way". 
Perhaps a refinement would be to offer the ability to differentiate between
leading "-n..." where n is a numerical value versus leading "-x..." where x is
a variable or cell reference.

COMPLICATION:  The issue is broader than just the "leading term" of a formula,
in that it also occurs when an expression is input to some function, e.g.,
SQRT(-x^2+7) or SIN(-x^2+7), etc.

At the very least, such situations should trigger a pop-up warning alerting the
user to the ambiguity of interpretation.

-- 
You are receiving this mail because:
You are the QA Contact for the issue.