PEMDAS

you would probably get that answer faster if you ask one of the moderaters directly i would suggest asking CPhill he is one of the moderaters that stay on of the longest so you would have a better shot at getting your answer

Example:

-2.5 x 3+(3x4+ 2^3)^2 x3 =  1192.5

It seems to do so....there was some discussion some time back about   -2^2    = -4  because it does the exponent first then does the negative     so if you want   -2  squared you have to use parens   (-2)^2 = 4