if scale is a vector say [1, 2, 3] then x+scale = [1+x, 2+x, 3+x], and in Matlab [ [1,2,3], 4] = [1, 2, 3, 4].<p>I agree with all you said mind you, and could rant even more about Matlab, just giving a possible explanation for how Matlab parses the expression.