What is -x-x

[Ryaja]

I thought of this question earlier and can't figure it out, it could be (-x)(-x) or (-x)-(x), so which one would it default to?

[Nazalassa]

I think it's (-x)-(x), for clarity you should put parenthesis if you want to say (-x)(-x).

Personally I see a dead person with glasses :D
-x-x

[Deddly]

Hang on... isn't the answer simply "x"? 

(as an answer to -x-x) 

Edited January 9, 2023 by Deddly

[Ryaja]

Just now, Deddly said:

Hang on... isn't the answer simply "x"? 

(as an answer to -x-x) 

No, because it is either negative x minus x which is negative two x or negative x times negative x which is x^2

[JoeSchmuckatelli]

3 hours ago, Ryaja said:

No, because it is either negative x minus x which is negative two x or negative x times negative x which is x^2

except you would not write negative x times negative x that way.  That would be

-x(-x)

and before you say xx could be x^2 in the same way you write xy to mean x times y (x times x), and thus -x-x could also be x^2 - the conventions matter.  -x-y would never be understood as anything but negative x minus y.  AFAIK - you do need the parenthesis.

[kerbiloid]

The reverse notation is so much better:

x±^x-