Quote:
Originally Posted by RWebb
the conventions exist b/c they work for real world problems[/url]
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You seem to think that conventions are consistent and universal, Neither is the case.
Look here:
http://www.ets.org/s/gre/pdf/gre_math_conventions.pdf
Specifically:
Overview
The mathematical symbols and terminology used in the Quantitative Reasoning measure of the test are conventional at the high school level, and most of these appear in the Math Review. Whenever nonstandard or special notation or terminology is used in a test question, it is explicitly introduced in the question. However, there are some particular assumptions about numbers and geometric figures that are made throughout the test. These assumptions appear in the test at the beginning of the Quantitative Reasoning sections, and they are elaborated below.
Also, some notation and terminology, while standard at the high school level in many countries, may be different from those used in other countries or from those used at higher or lower levels of mathematics. Such notation and terminology are clarified below. Because it is impossible to ascertain which notation and terminology should be clarified for an individual test taker, more material than necessary may be included.
This kind of "conventions" primer is not uncommon in mathematical texts. Why? Because conventions in mathematics are not consistent nor universal.
Scott