# Correct notation for change in a variable squared

I'm currently typesetting a formula that I've developed for a research project. In my formula, I refer to the (change in voltage magnitude) squared.

Is it appropriate to write this as $\Delta |V|^2$, or is this ambiguous, and should I instead write this as $(\Delta |V|)^2$?

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How about $|E|^2$ (though this is something slightly different)? I would indeed say that $\Delta|V|^2$ is ambiguous. –  akkkk Oct 10 '12 at 11:03
Would $|\Delta V|^{2}$ work? –  in_wolfram_we_trust Oct 10 '12 at 11:08
$|\Delta V|$ is different to $\Delta |V|$, due to the fact that $V$ is complex (and by the triangle inequality). Thanks though. –  Fabian Tamp Oct 10 '12 at 11:09
Fair enough. My knowledge of electric circuits stopped in school school. –  in_wolfram_we_trust Oct 10 '12 at 11:19
Use the parentheses... I read your initial one as $\Delta(|V|^2)$. I don't know what the precedence of $\Delta$ over other operators should be, but it doesn't obviously come before exponentiation. –  mjqxxxx Oct 10 '12 at 14:19