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Given $5x/30x^2$

According to BEDMAS this expression is equivalent to $5*\cfrac{x}{30}*x^2$ or is it equivalent to: $\cfrac{5x}{30x^2}$

The latter indicates $30x^2$ is $(30*(x^2))$, with implied parenthesis.

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I'd say it is ambiguous depending on whether $5x/30x^2$ is used to represent $5 \cdot x \div 30 \cdot x^2$ or the fraction $\frac{5x}{30x^2}$. If the former is true, then I'd go with $5 \cdot \frac{x}{30} \cdot x^2$. Otherwise, I'd go with $\frac{5x}{30x^2}$. A typical solution is to add parentheses. Anyway, please see mathoverflow.net/faq#whatquestions for why this question was closed as off topic. You can also try math.stackexchange.com. – Jason Jan 5 2011 at 1:25

closed as off topic by Andres Caicedo, Andrea Ferretti, Tim Perutz, Joel David Hamkins, José Figueroa-O'Farrill Jan 5 2011 at 0:34

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