6/2*(1+2)=?

midnight rain · 05-01-2011, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisnaholic

and if I had wanted the answer to be 1, I would have written : 6/2(1+3) = 6/(2 x 3) = 1"

That's incorrect. The answer to that is still 9. The way you wrote it hides the multiplication sign making it appear as if you'd multiply the denominator by (1+3). But in actuality, you still multiply the 6 by (1+3)

It looks easier if you actually keep the multiplication sign in: 6/2*(1+2) and 6/2(1+2) are the same thing. And the answer to both is 9.

midnight rain · 05-01-2011, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoonlitSunshine

Because it's all very well to say that, but there's absolutely no guarantee that the person you're communicating with feels the same way... as is evident from this thread.

So you want people to just throw out well established math principles because they "feel" like it? Bottom line, you do it the way oojay did it and you wouldn't be taken seriously in the math community, you'd get the question wrong on a test, etc. Because the math community abides by some universal guidelines where parentheses are assumed, or not assumed depending on the situation. And it's a matter of learning when they're necessary

Solving it oojay's way is the equivalent of putting a period in the middle of a sentence; no one's stopping you from doing it. But the rules that govern basic math that were established to keep a standard would say it's incorrect. You don't get to choose how a problem's solved if it breaks the rules of math laid down just because you feel like it. Unless you want the wrong answer, of course.

MoonlitSunshine · 05-01-2011, 04:35 PM

Do you want to reference a paper or some sort of quote from "The mathematical community" to back up these wild, wild statements?

**Janszoon** · 05-01-2011, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoonlitSunshine

Because it's all very well to say that, but there's absolutely no guarantee that the person you're communicating with feels the same way... as is evident from this thread.

But if there's an established way it's handled, as there appears to be, what does it matter how someone feels about it?

MoonlitSunshine · 05-01-2011, 04:45 PM

Because the "established way it's handled" isn't universally established. They've been doing polls on this recently, the answer given isn't universally equal. As I was saying earlier, you might as well say "Well, people know what I mean if I spell words incorrectly, so there's no point in correcting my spelling".

TheBig3 · 05-01-2011, 05:09 PM

Well, no one answer my question from earlier in the thread which was...

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3

I'm boggled by the philosophy that addition/subtraction and multiplication/division are interchangeable. Order of operations is something artificially created to avoid these issues. So why boggle the issue by saying

These laws, for ease of things like international space travel, will be iron clad...except for these parts here. Do this however the **** ya want. That part I'm lost on.

If we can agree that there isn't an inherent way to complete these problems and that the Order of Operations (OoO) is something to communicate more effectively as a globe, then why such flimsy guidelines sitting within the law?

It isn't logical to have order, where in there is disorder. Math is often seen as hard truths to achieve answers. But most of what we learn in math is philosophy. Its filled with theory and abstract constructs which we represent with numbers but you're not always told what you're multiplying or finding the radical root of.

All Oojay did, and myself since I got 1 also, was assign logical law to an area thats illogical. Why are certain ranks considered equal if there isn't an inherent way to find an answer, and we're making one up? If we're using PEMDAS, then it will determine rank where the system has failed.

midnight rain · 05-01-2011, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoonlitSunshine

Because the "established way it's handled" isn't universally established. They've been doing polls on this recently, the answer given isn't universally equal. As I was saying earlier, you might as well say "Well, people know what I mean if I spell words incorrectly, so there's no point in correcting my spelling".

I don't think that's what EvilChuck is looking for, regardless of if it's being challenged. I think he just wanted the answer that's taught in school and practiced in practical life.

And it seems pretty established to me, that's why Google calculator knew what I meant even when I didn't add the parentheses. Just because people are doing the problem incorrectly doesn't mean we should accept that as an alternative answer.

right-track · 05-01-2011, 05:56 PM

Candidate for most boring thread in the history of MusicBanter?

EvilChuck · 05-01-2011, 05:56 PM

I'm not actually looking for the answer, as I said I'm certain the answer is 9. I just thought it was interesting that despite what should be simple mathematics it had spawned (and has again) a big debate, over what oojay said on the first page or so is '6th grade maths'.

I was taught BODMAS at school, others were taught PEMDAS. This is proof enough imo that the multiplication and division are interchangable, and all thats left is to say you should work from right to left and whatever comes forst is what you do first.

right-track · 05-01-2011, 05:57 PM

*yawn

05-01-2011, 04:35 PM	#113 (permalink)
MoonlitSunshine Dat's Der Bunny! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ireland Posts: 1,088	Do you want to reference a paper or some sort of quote from "The mathematical community" to back up these wild, wild statements? __________________ "I found it eventually, at the bottom of a locker in a disused laboratory, with a sign on the door saying "Beware of the Leopard". Ever thought of going into Advertising?" - Arthur Dent

05-01-2011, 04:45 PM	#115 (permalink)
MoonlitSunshine Dat's Der Bunny! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ireland Posts: 1,088	Because the "established way it's handled" isn't universally established. They've been doing polls on this recently, the answer given isn't universally equal. As I was saying earlier, you might as well say "Well, people know what I mean if I spell words incorrectly, so there's no point in correcting my spelling". __________________ "I found it eventually, at the bottom of a locker in a disused laboratory, with a sign on the door saying "Beware of the Leopard". Ever thought of going into Advertising?" - Arthur Dent

05-01-2011, 05:56 PM	#119 (permalink)
EvilChuck #based Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: (Near) London, England Posts: 443	I'm not actually looking for the answer, as I said I'm certain the answer is 9. I just thought it was interesting that despite what should be simple mathematics it had spawned (and has again) a big debate, over what oojay said on the first page or so is '6th grade maths'. I was taught BODMAS at school, others were taught PEMDAS. This is proof enough imo that the multiplication and division are interchangable, and all thats left is to say you should work from right to left and whatever comes forst is what you do first. __________________ Last.FM

05-01-2011, 05:56 PM	#118 (permalink)
right-track Atchin' Akai Join Date: May 2005 Location: Unamerica Posts: 8,723	Candidate for most boring thread in the history of MusicBanter?

05-01-2011, 05:57 PM	#120 (permalink)
right-track Atchin' Akai Join Date: May 2005 Location: Unamerica Posts: 8,723	*yawn