`n'^2
is substituted
-2^2
and when calculated, the operator ^ is applied before the operator -
as if you had
-(2^2)
but you intend
(-2)^2
for which case your program line 3 could read
local nsquared1=(`n')^2
to force the intended order of operator precedence.
--H�kon
[email protected]
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Matthias Greiner [mailto:[email protected]]
> Sent: 28. august 2002 14:55
> To: '[email protected]'
> Subject: st: Problem with power operator
>
>
> Dear Stata users
>
> Using
>
> . do "... \square.do"
>
> . program define square
> 1. version 7.0
> 2. gettoken n 0 : 0, parse(" ,")
> 3. local nsquared1=`n'^2
> 4. local nsquared2=(`n'*`n')
> 5. di "`nsquared1' `nsquared2'"
> 6. end
> .
> end of do-file
>
> I observe the following misbehaviour of the power operator "^2"
>
> . square -2
> -4 4
>
> The example is for illustration -- the problem occurs in a
> real programme,
> where the negative value n is a result of internal (and correct)
> calculations. I am puzzled because I never observed this before.
>
> Thanks in advance for your help.
> Matthias
> ---
> Matthias Greiner, Dr. med. vet.
> Head of the International EpiLab
> Danish Veterinary Institute
> B�lowsvej 27, DK-1790 Copenhagen V
> Tel +45 35 30 01 40
> Fax +45 35 30 06 16
> [email protected]
> www.vetinst.dk/EpiLab
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>
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