|
|
 Originally Posted by a500lbgorilla
There is no basically always 1 way to interpret basic mathematical equations as evidenced by the following basic mathematical equation:
48÷2(9+3)
Ok then, logic problem:
Situation A: we follow the order of operations strictly, meaning terms inside brackets, then orders, then division and multiplication left to right, and subtraction and addition left to right. We do not give special preference of varying degrees to mutliplication via juxtaposition against brackets.
Situation B: we (by we, I mean generally a large following of people) give arbitrary special emphasis of varying degrees to such multiplication via juxtaposition, such that seemingly simple problems can be interpreted in multiple ways, and nobody can seemingly agree on anything.
Which makes more sense?
Quoting myself from an earlier post which should even more clearly demonstrate why option B is much murkier:
Example that I am coming up with right here:
3(2*2.5)^2
Do you do the 3* as in left to right (same as parenthesis), before the exponent, after the exponent but before other multiplication, or simply left to right?
|
Reply With Quote