A.
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/coa...--forever.html
B.
http://www.angrymath.com/2009/03/pem...prejudice.html
C. I blame whoever wrote the equation, because it begs for misinterpretation. Extra parentheses for clarification are never wrong.
D. Why the hell did I open a math thread started by Flint? It's always trouble.