BODMAS (BIDMAS) depending if you want to use the term order or indices, is the general rule that is applied in calculations.
For example, a + b x c is calculated as follows:
Step 1. b x c (= d, say)
Step 2. a + d
This is the accepted rule and there is no ambiguity.
However, recently I have seen this written down:
Evaluate a x b / c x d
How would one interpret that? Excel does the following:
Step 1. a x b (= e, say)
Step 2. e / c (= f, say)
Step 3. f x d
In other words, it interprets it as:
((a x b) / c) x d
Regardless of how Excel interprets it, mathematically what is the correct sequence?
Could you argue that it should be:
(a x b) / (c x d)?