http://mathforum.org/kb List of forum topics en http://mathforum.org/kb/thread.jspa?messageID=7925564&tstart=0#7925564 On Nov 19, 2012, at 1:29 AM, Clyde Greeno @ MALEI wrote:

> To "define" the expression "a-b" to mean the formula,]]> Nov 19, 2012 8:58:52 AM Nov 19, 2012 8:58:52 AM Schremmer.Alain@gmail.com 0 http://mathforum.org/kb/thread.jspa?messageID=7925527&tstart=0#7925527 7+-3^2 means 7+-1*3^2" ,... or, alternatively, she may choose to]]> Nov 19, 2012 1:29:28 AM Nov 19, 2012 1:29:28 AM greeno@malei.org 1 http://mathforum.org/kb/thread.jspa?messageID=7925258&tstart=0#7925258 On Nov 18, 2012, at 10:00 AM, Phil Mahler wrote:

> And that no student will properly misinterpret 7 - 3^2, but]]> Nov 18, 2012 7:44:41 PM Nov 18, 2012 7:44:41 PM Schremmer.Alain@gmail.com 0 http://mathforum.org/kb/thread.jspa?messageID=7925241&tstart=0#7925241 On Nov 18, 2012, at 9:54 AM, Phil Mahler wrote:

> so many students get it wrong, even after a reasonable amount]]> Nov 18, 2012 7:22:15 PM Nov 18, 2012 7:22:15 PM Schremmer.Alain@gmail.com 0 http://mathforum.org/kb/thread.jspa?messageID=7925035&tstart=0#7925035
And that no student will properly misinterpret 7 - 3^2, but the]]> Nov 18, 2012 10:00:55 AM Nov 18, 2012 10:00:55 AM mahlerp@middlesex.mass.edu 1 http://mathforum.org/kb/thread.jspa?messageID=7925034&tstart=0#7925034
7-3^2 means 7+-3^2 means 7+-1*3^2

To be true, the]]> Nov 18, 2012 9:54:45 AM Nov 18, 2012 9:54:45 AM mahlerp@middlesex.mass.edu 1 http://mathforum.org/kb/thread.jspa?messageID=7925036&tstart=0#7925036
The point is that it is all convention, there are reasons for choosing the conventions we do.

I am]]> Nov 18, 2012 2:48:41 AM Nov 18, 2012 2:48:41 AM 6