×
The internal search function is temporarily non-functional. The current search engine is no longer viable and we are researching alternatives.
As a stop gap measure, we are using Google's custom search engine service.
If you know of an easy to use, open source, search engine ... please contact support@midrange.com.
Scott Klement wrote:
The question isn't whether algebra predates HLLs!
The question is whether the "Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally" rule
predates the HLLs. I tend to agree with JHHL. When I took computer
courses in school they told us that the PEMDAS rule was only for
computers. Later, they adopted it in algebra as well.
And yet according to Wikipedia, it appears to have existed for
centuries; perhaps it just wasn't universal.
Then, too, consider that in standard algebra, implicit multiplication
signs are used far more frequently than explicit, and horizontal
fraction bars are used far more frequently than any form of division
sign; both of those conventions have their own implications for
precedence. Likewise, the use of ** or ^ as exponentiation signs is an
artifact of the inherent inability to superscript an exponent (or form a
radical sign) in the overwhelming majority of the ways in which we write
source code.
--
JHHL
This mailing list archive is Copyright 1997-2024 by midrange.com and David Gibbs as a compilation work. Use of the archive is restricted to research of a business or technical nature. Any other uses are prohibited. Full details are available on our policy page. If you have questions about this, please contact
[javascript protected email address].
Operating expenses for this site are earned using the Amazon Associate program and Google Adsense.
midrange.com
