Well, doesn't this just go to show that ()'s should always be used to resolve any ambiguities! Just when you thought you had all the facts lined up - something comes along to knock you for a six!
I have had the chance to look at your edited post - nice picture! Unfortunately, my texts (yes, you made me hit the text books) did not have any examples or reference to such confusion!
I would always have picked (-2) as being as much a number as (2) , hence the interpretation of the equation. In this case the "-" is negation, not minus, and I can't find my reference to BEDMAS at the moment which includes such things.
Cheers,
DK
