Maths homework anyone?

[MikeMcc]

Oh, I do see what you mean alright. And yes, that would be another possible convention.

As a matter of interest the convention you suggest (just start on the left and work through the sums) is actually used by some computer programming languages.

Hmm, you've got me thinking now. I wonder why that simpler convention not used for paper and pencil workings. Hmmm.

I suspect because it is actually easier in practice to see the effect of a change in the expression (say, add a new term or two) with BODAS.

Even then they work using BODMAS (some with a few additional levels of priority), then work left to right calculating out parts that have equal levels of priority.

 

[goldenecitrone]

Cheers Manifold and Jazzz. Got my exam on Thursday and there's going to be loads of differentiating and identities to do. But I'm pretty confident to be honest. It's just practice. And can I just say once more Jazzz, you waste your intellect on these conspiracy theories, you really do.