So it seems that the various positions expressed in this thread can be fully summarized:
1. Some people have seen both conventions and admit the possibility that other people use a different convention from themselves
2. Other people have seen only one convention but admit the possibility that other people use a different convention from themselves
3. Still other people have only seen one convention and do not admit the possibility that the alternative exists at all
4. A few people aren't sure about the conventions but can produce pictures from their calculators * ** ***
* Some people's calculators give different results
** Other people claim, incorrectly, that the expression can be evaluated in Maple and/or Matlab as specified
*** Still others seem to think that the version number of Matlab is more important than the doctoring that was applied to the picture
5. Certain individuals feel that their status as tutors, teachers, engineers, elite college students/graduates, math test whizzes, etc., renders any and all of the above arguments pointless -- they are just plain RIGHT!!!
Does this basically cover the bases?
P.S.: You guys go on having fun with this, I'm going to go play tennis now.