第 14 条 · 项的顺序可以改变

It will be perceived, from these examples, that the order in which we write the numbers is perfectly indifferent and arbitrary, provided the proper sign of each be preserved.

从这些例子可以看出，只要每个数前面的符号保持不变，书写这些数的顺序完全无关紧要，可以任意安排。

We might with equal propriety have arranged the expression in the preceding article thus; 12 + 2 - 5 - 3 - 1, or 2 - 1 - 3 - 5 + 12, or 2 + 12 - 3 - 1 - 5, or in still different orders.

上一条的式子也可以同样写成 12 + 2 - 5 - 3 - 1，或 2 - 1 - 3 - 5 + 12，或 2 + 12 - 3 - 1 - 5，甚至其他顺序。

Where it must be observed, that in the arrangement first proposed, the sign + is supposed to be placed before the number 12.

这里要注意，原来写在最前面的 12，前面其实默认有一个 + 号。