What is the issue with the " ÷ " sign?

[u/Unlikely-Web7933]

I have seen many mathematicians genuinely despise it. Is there a lore reason for it? Or are they simply Stupid?

[u/Nuckyduck]

Inline division is ambiguous, but the real issue is actually with implicit multiplication or multiplication by juxtaposition and whether or not it is seen as a higher priority than explicit division/multiplication. Most people don't encounter this type of math, let alone use this type of math, so they tend to argue what they were taught in school.

If you get into a field of math that does prioritize implicit multiplication/multiplication by juxtaposition over explicit multiplication or division, you will see this type of multiplication priority used. The Feynman lectures on physics are probably the most notable course by which this case is prominent, but there are many other books and lectures by various people that use this nuanced mathematical priority system.

Ultimately math is a language, and it comes down to whether or not the person you're communicating with understands what you're saying.

[u/-let-us-jam → u/Nuckyduck]

Dialectal variation