[Octave-bug-tracker] [bug #37734] Octave produces incorrect results because it doesn't follow the normal order of operations

[anonymous]

URL:
  <http://savannah.gnu.org/bugs/?37734>

                 Summary: Octave produces incorrect results because it doesn't
follow the normal order of operations
                 Project: GNU Octave
            Submitted by: None
            Submitted on: Wed 14 Nov 2012 06:38:08 PM UTC
                Category: Interpreter
                Severity: 3 - Normal
                Priority: 5 - Normal
              Item Group: Incorrect Result
                  Status: None
             Assigned to: None
         Originator Name: Georgiy Treyvus
        Originator Email: address@hidden
             Open/Closed: Open
         Discussion Lock: Any
                 Release: 3.2.4
        Operating System: GNU/Linux

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Details:

Here is the bug:

octave:1> 2^3^2
ans =  64
octave:2> 

The answer is supposed to be 512 yet Octave returns 64 here instead. The
reason is that it's not following the correct order of operations. It
evaluates the expression I fed it as (2^3)^2 as opposed to 2^(3^2) as it's
supposed to if expressions were evaluated by normal order of operations. This
bug isn't a big deal as I can simply feed Octave 2^(3^2) to get the correct
answer. However even though the workaround is quite trivial inserting these
extra parentheses is not something I should have to do. The goes against well
established mathematical standards and against the behaviors of just about
every other interpreter I've seen whether specialized for mathematical
purposes or not.

Python:
>>> 2**3**2
512

Ruby:
irb(main):001:0> 2**3**2
=> 512

Bash:
address@hidden:~$ echo $((2**3**2))
512

Qalculate:
> 2^3^2

  2^(3^2) = 512

R:
> 2^3^2
[1] 512

Scilab:
-->2^3^2
 ans  =
 
    512.  
 
Bc:
2^3^2
512

Please fix this to behave in accordance with mathematical norms.




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