I need a reference for basic operator precedence which is indesputible, say an equivalent to the OED but for maths. Anyone know of one?

Erm... BODMAS

Not sure you'd find one really - basic operators are either left or right associative by convention and their precedence is arbitrary. Why would you need one? Surely the conventions for basic operators are commonly accepted and otherwise you just use parenthesis.

Wolframalpha.com is always a nice resource to use but unfortunately not something you can cite as 'indisputable'.

yeah that's more or less the problem I have, a relative of mine is disputing with a lecturer at Kings College no less that in a problem of the form x-y*z the correct order of operation is x-(y*z) and not (as the lecturer is contending) (x-y)*z

I've managed to find a KS3 revision page on BBC bitesize which spells it out in words of one sylable, I think the humiliation of being referred to a revision site for 12 year olds will serve my purpose well enough

That's quite worrying... I hope he's a business studies lecturer or something and not actually from the maths dept...

what's currently worrying me is she's studying to be a nurse :O