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I have the following statement:

$1< d,q < a .$

Does this mean:

$1 < d$ and $q < a$?

or does it mean:

$1< d < a$ and $1< q?

  • 5
    The second one.2011-10-21

1 Answers 1

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J.M. is correct, assuming that the author of the statement $1 < d,q < a$ formatted their statement the way they should have. One could imagine intending to say $\ldots 1 but forgetting the general rule to insert words between distinct expressions (to avoid precisely this kind of confusion). So, assuming they meant the single expression $1 < d,q < a$, then it does mean the second one, i.e. " $1 and $1 ". However, if they were sloppy and wrote two expressions right next to each other separated only by a comma, i.e. $1, $q, then they intended the first one, i.e. " $1, and also $q ".

But it's best to assume people mean what they say unless there's reason to believe otherwise (e.g., the statement that $1 and $q doesn't make sense in the context in which this appears). So you should read it as the second version.