Question

why isn't -6^2+7=43. i thought -6^2 was 36

Answer 1

because it, in fact, seems to be: - (6^2) +7 = x

Answer 2

I believe to get -6*-6 you should write (-6)^2

because exponent is higher order than the minus sign??

Answer 3

basically if you have no parentheses then they are added according to priority:

- 6 ^ 2 .....rule: exponent is higher, so stack them together first
- (6^2) .....rule: then stack together the additions/subtractions from left to right
(-(6^2)) the result is -36 because power was already taken before any negative sign