Strange math thing

Ok,

v is the result of a formula and height = 1

if i go


trace (height + *v*) 

i get

16378143.50006376

seems like its just concatenated a string

if i use


trace (*v* + height) 

i get

6378143.500063761

which is correct…

can someone please explain this oddness to me, it has me perplexed, because to me both the trace statements are identical really…

Ray.