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The question was stated correctly. I don't see where you were going. It wasn't stated as clearly as possible to the math-limited individual, but it was absolutely correct. Math has no ambiguity.
(I studied computer science Princeton University; I don't know why we're signing with our education level now for 5th grade math problems)
oh oh oh,,,
Since we are getting all of the degree out.. May I....
BS biostatistics (dont ask me why)
MACC
MBA
It doesnt matter, blue is blue, and red is red, no matter how much degree I have or you or everybody has it will always be 288. Dangles even if you have 3 PhD, that doesnt make blue red because you say so.
The reason I bring it up is that if I cut/paste this into excel, it’s a formula error. 3rd grade order of operations means the answer is 288 , obviously. My first post was about some dude who was trying to prove how smart he was by being somewhat ambiguous. I could just as easily turn around to a 5th grader and ask them to solve black-scheols option pricing model and they couldn’t…doesn’t mean they are dumb. they just haven't learned it yet
I cannot believe that this thread is still going on. Some people should reread their basic algebra.
5+10*3 = ?
If you go from left to right, you get the wrong answer 45
If you use the order of operations you get the correct answer 35
This is a simpler problem than the one in the OP, but it shows the importance of the order of operations.
Here's another 15 + 45/3 - 6*5
If you go left to right, you get 60/3 - 30 or 20 - 30 = -10 which is wrong.
If you do the order of operations, you get 15 + 15 - 30 = 30 - 30 = 0 which is correct.
If you group numerator and denominator, you get 60/(3-30) = 60/-27 = -2.22222222222.....
We NEED the order of operations so that equations are non-ambiguous.
OMG. RLY? Order of operations doesn't matter in mult/division or addition/subtration. It's only important when you have a mix of these functions, in which case parenthesis come first, then exponents, then mult/div, then add/sub
48÷2(9+3)
is
48÷2(12)
is
48÷2X12
is
288
is
48X12÷2
is
12X48÷2
is
1÷2X48X12
is
1/2 X 48 X 12
An easy way to keep track of this is to identify each number by it's preceeding operator and then use the basic function (addition and multiplication only)
Think of it as if there is no such thing as "subtraction" or "division". There is only addition of negative numbers (= subtraction) and multiplication of fractions (= division).
Kind of like hot and cold. There's no such thing as making something cold, there is only removal of heat.
In this case:
÷2 is times (1/2)
X48 is times 48
X12 is times 12
or
15+8X(-18)÷3-2
is
+ (-2) + (+15) + (+8) X (-18) X (+1/3)
or any other order you'd care to put it in so long as additions and multiplications stay grouped.
Order only becomes important when the functions are mixed.
15*2+3X8-16*4÷2+1
is
(15 X 2) + (3 X 8) + (-16 X 4 X 1/2) + (1)
Feel free to switch the order inside the parenthesis or switch the order of the "parenthesised" functions. The results will always be the same.
For those of you getting on a plane tomorrow, don't worry. Engineers have this down pat, front back and sideways. Plus a LOT more difficult mathematical problems.
It's wrong because after you do the parentheses (9+3), you work left to right. The expression would be better if you added the parentheses, but in algebra they are not necessary.
48÷2(9+3)
48÷2(12)
24(12)
288
If you want 2 the correct expression would be
48÷(2(9+3))
When you have parentheses I have been taught you need to distribute the terms first and then work left to right. That's where you are wrong. You always do parentheses first, then distribute the terms, and THEN work left to right.
Amazing this thread is still going, perpetuated by graduate level engineers and mathematicians.
This is like two surgeons arguing about the best way to treat a paper cut.
I wonder if we really put a man on the moon? How could we have possible done this?
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