Originally Posted by WarChild

I agree with you that 1999 is a bit too old. Fortunately, somebody asked that very same PHD this EXACT question in this day and age. Here is how he answered it:

So there you have it folks. A PHD and professor of mathematics says, in 2011 says it's a poorly written equation that, and I quote him here directly, "The left to right approach yielding 288 is the only interpretation that fits the usual set of rules; but it is so easy to
misread that I'd avoid it".

PHD Math > everyone here. Case closed.