I can't find the reason why sql calculates the values like this, does anyone have some documentation (or was I asleep for this module???).

DECLARE @Total numeric -- or int, decimal and float all work and have no bearing on the original calculation

SET @Total = (57714 + 345 - 17) * 3

PRINT @Total

The above method returns the correct value, why?

I must admit that I did cheat and ran the script (but didn't answer) because I realised that there was something up! An interesting (if not pertinent) QOD siteman.