Yes, that's correct-- negative-negative there leads to a positive (and real) solution.
It's not that you can't do the operations out of order there, but that you have to remember that the solution is a single, real number value because of the signs.
In an algebraic solution which includes variables, then, you'd have to "split" the problem into two solutions-- to account for the possibility that a variable has a negative value.
THEN, you'd have a solution which is fully real, and one that allows for the square root of a negative value.
What level of math, though? (I wouldn't expect imaginary/irrational solutions below geometry.)
Last edited by HowlerKarma; 09/21/13 05:26 AM.
