"David Fontaine" <dav### [at] faricynet> wrote in message
news:3A808672.D37E6BD5@faricy.net...
> Tom Melly wrote:
>
> > Unfortunately, there is no common sense that can resolve "3+2*5". There
is
> > nothing to imply that the multiplication occurs first.
>
> [snip]
> Of course there is. It's called simple algebra.
> a*x^2+b*x+c means what to you?
>

(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.

In fact, one could argue that the only common sense option is to evaluate
the expression strictly left to right. IMHO common sense would dictate that
the solution is: (a*x)^2 + (b*x) + c.

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