Which branch of mathematics is this?

[Cinitiator]

Homework Statement

Which branch of mathematics predominates in the equation below?

Homework Equations

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_rule

The Attempt at a Solution

I know that a line over a number can mean either a statistical mean or a complex conjugate, and that a star in the exponent of a number is usually used to specify either a complex conjugate or delta x in Riemann sums.

Which is the case in this equation? I think that it's most likely complex conjugate notation, but I'm not sure. Oh, and the main question is: Which branch of mathematics predominates in this equation?

 

[Robert1986]

In the wikipedia article that you link to, in the paragraph RIGHT below the equation, is a description of what EACH of the variables is.

As for "which branch of mathematics predominates this equation" it doesn't look like there is one, given this is an equation in MONETARY POLICY (again, this is ALL in the article you link).