Storm in a tea cup

Here's another on my list of "things I wish people wouldn't do".

It starts with exploring something that is largely subjective and then writing a formula to go with it.  The but I don't like is the way it is published, usually featuring the words "mathematicians have created a formula for...", or "scientists have discovered the formula for...".

The worst part of course is that the formulas are often (with a few honourable exceptions) gibberish.

A new low was plumbed with the formula for the "perfect cup of builders' tea".

Have a look at this (taken from the ITV news website):

What could this possibly mean?  Do try and work out what on earth is going on before you read further.

What is the result of this?  What is E ?  How can you multiply that by the sum of q, t and m?

Thankfully the Deccan Herald is on hand to help us out, explaining that:

The final formula for the perfect builders' brew is: 'Perfect cuppa: 2B + 30R + E(m + q + t) + 10W'.
In the formula 2B denotes two minutes of brewing time, 30R is 30 seconds of resting time, E(m + q + t) denotes a big mug, a good quality tea bag and a treat while 10W stands for 10ml milk.

Oh dear.  It sounds as if they played with lots of different variables and tested lots of different ways of making tea, using willing builders as tea-drinking judges.  In the interview I heard with the students on the radio earlier today the journalist expressed surprise that only 10ml of milk was considered optimal, so they have found out something unexpected.

But why-o-why express it as if it were a formula, when it isn't?

I'm off for a cup of coffee to calm down.  Now, where's my calculator and formula booklet?