Tom Melly wrote:

> (a*(x^2)) + (b*x) + c - but this is not common sense, it is following a
> convention that exists because common sense is not available.

I don't know, it seems sensible to me. Addition versus multiplication: to me,
multiplying implies part of the same thing, like  width and height of a
rectangle, whereas addition is the sum multiple things, ie multiple rectangles.
Think of the problem of surface area of a 3d solid. Hence multiplication
operations should be "groups" when figuring out the order of operations. It
gets progressively more obscure, but I think a similar arument can be made for
all precedences.

Besides from which, mathematics and programming require strict rules and some
degree of consistency by their very nature.

--
David Fontaine  <dav### [at] faricynet>  ICQ 55354965
My raytracing gallery:  http://davidf.faricy.net/

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