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re: Bizarre Math Question and Answer breaks the internet - Sorry if already posted
Posted on 4/15/15 at 7:11 pm to GRTiger
Posted on 4/15/15 at 7:11 pm to GRTiger
quote:
So left to right never comes into play?5-2+3=x can be calculated accurately in any direction
I am not sure what you mean here. 5-2+3=3-2+5=6=x
ETA-
Per the good professor:
quote:
For expressions such as a-b+c, or a+b-c, or a-b-c, there is also a fixed convention, but rather than saying that one of addition and subtraction is always done before the other, it says that when one has a sequence of these two operations, one works from left to right: One starts with a, then adds or subtracts b, and finally adds or subtracts c.
This post was edited on 4/15/15 at 7:19 pm
1
Posted on 4/15/15 at 7:14 pm to KG6
I like that answer. 
I could say the equation in the OP could be seen similarly, taking the division sign and two to mean multiplied by (1/2), so that it's 12 x (1/2) x 48.
I could say the equation in the OP could be seen similarly, taking the division sign and two to mean multiplied by (1/2), so that it's 12 x (1/2) x 48.
Posted on 4/15/15 at 7:17 pm to GRTiger
bingo
Posted on 4/15/15 at 7:17 pm to NYNolaguy1
quote:
I am not sure what you mean here. 5-2+3=3-2+5=6=x
I get what you and kg6 are saying, but you still went left to right there.
Posted on 4/15/15 at 7:23 pm to GRTiger
Its what makes me laugh about these threads. I see both sides. I personally solve it to be 2 at first. But don't think 288 is wrong. Its just as correct. I personally distribute right away as it simplifies the equation for me. But that's my habit. If the equation isn't written correctly, that would screw me over. Good thing I'm an engineer who only solves equations that mean something. I know the physics behind it, so I know how it should be solved.
I'm being a condescending, know it all engineer when I say this
, but I really feel people who stick to the right to left so adamantly don't have a ridiculous amount of mathematical experience.
I'm being a condescending, know it all engineer when I say this
, but I really feel people who stick to the right to left so adamantly don't have a ridiculous amount of mathematical experience. This post was edited on 4/15/15 at 7:29 pm
Posted on 4/15/15 at 7:24 pm to KG6
quote:
People get bent out of shape about this with the whole left to right thing. It's easily interpreted as both answers, but you were taught to read math problems like sentences (left to right) in third grade, so screw what a math professor says.
Renowned math professors argued against switching in the Monty Hall paradox as well, and they were wrong then too.
I don't understand how someone can possibly interpret this problem as ambiguous.
48/2(9+3) = 288
The author of the problem clearly knows how to write parentheses, and if he wanted the problem to be interpreted as 48/(2(9+3)), he would have done so. Obviously that was not his intention.
I love how people think they understand math well, think the solution is 2, and then argue it is ambiguous instead of acknowledging they were wrong.
Posted on 4/15/15 at 7:28 pm to KG6
In the absence of an absolutely correctly written formula, and with you admitting that while left to right is not an immutable rule, it's not incorrect (which I think you did in a weird "I can't quite admit anything" type of way), wouldn't you apply it in this case? Again, not because it should always be applied, but knowing that it's not wrong to apply, it would be helpful when solving an obscure equation.
This post was edited on 4/15/15 at 7:30 pm
Posted on 4/15/15 at 7:28 pm to KG6
quote:
I personally solve it to be 2 at first. But don't think 288 is wrong. Its just as correct. I personally distribute right away as it simplifies the equation for me. But that's my habit. If the equation isn't written correctly, that would screw me over. Good thing I'm an engineer who only solves equations that mean something. I know the physics behind it, so I know how it should be solved.
I'm being a condescending, know it all engineer when I say this, but I really feel people who stick to the right to left so adamantly don't have a ridiculous amount of mathematical experience.
+1
Posted on 4/15/15 at 7:32 pm to slackster
quote:
I love how people think they understand math well, think the solution is 2, and then argue it is ambiguous instead of acknowledging they were wrong.
I could see how someone could interpret it that way. Does that make me wrong stating there are two solutions? Not all math problems have one solution. Some have no solution. Some have infinite solutions.
Posted on 4/15/15 at 7:34 pm to KG6
quote:
I'm being a condescending, know it all engineer when I say this , but I really feel people who stick to the right to left so adamantly don't have a ridiculous amount of mathematical experience.
Spoken like most engineers I know - when in doubt and/or wrong, claim you're simply thinking outside the box.
Posted on 4/15/15 at 7:35 pm to KosmoCramer
Posted on 4/15/15 at 7:40 pm to NYNolaguy1
quote:
could see how someone could interpret it that way.
I can too. It is easy to understand why someone would use "your" instead of "you're", but one is correct and one is incorrect depending on the context.
quote:
Not all math problems have one solution. Some have no solution. Some have infinite solutions.
Agreed. However, the OP, as written, has one answer. I'm not upset that you or others were confused and got the wrong answer (2).
Posted on 4/15/15 at 7:44 pm to KosmoCramer
Common Core Maths ~:}
Posted on 4/15/15 at 7:52 pm to GRTiger
I'll never admit anything that could remotely be interpreted as me being wrong. That is saved for my wife and my wife only .
I just think some people read equations as sentences, and some see the arguments within the equation. You can read 1-2=x as one minus two. Or it can be read as positive one combined with negative two using addition. I feel the second scenario is more useful when you get deeper into math.
. I just think some people read equations as sentences, and some see the arguments within the equation. You can read 1-2=x as one minus two. Or it can be read as positive one combined with negative two using addition. I feel the second scenario is more useful when you get deeper into math.
Posted on 4/15/15 at 8:00 pm to KG6
quote:
Or it can be read as positive one combined with negative two using addition. I feel the second scenario is more useful when you get deeper into math.
Continuing with that logic, the OP can be read as 48 times .5 times (9+3), right?
Posted on 4/15/15 at 8:03 pm to slackster
I read it as (-1 times -48) times ((1/2) times 1) times (3+9) because I see the argument within the argument within the argument.
Posted on 4/15/15 at 8:05 pm to slackster
quote:
Agreed. However, the OP, as written, has one answer. I'm not upset that you or others were confused and got the wrong answer (2).
I just know if someone wrote this on a set of calcs I was reviewing, or if I wrote that, whoever saw this after me would want clarification. In my line of work clarity is important for obvious reasons, which is why I always use parenthesis just abt everywhere, so there is no question.
Posted on 4/15/15 at 8:09 pm to slackster
I just take my calculator's word for it 
Posted on 4/15/15 at 8:12 pm to slackster
Yes I'm not arguing against either method. But if you multiply the .5 across the argument is parenthesis before applying it to 48, you end up with a different answer. Therefore the only way to say 288 without any doubt is to fall back on left to right.
I'm not exactly sober right now, so i have no clue of this is making sense
I'm not exactly sober right now, so i have no clue of this is making sense
Posted on 4/15/15 at 8:53 pm to KG6
quote:Wow. This may be the most absurd statement in this thread. Math is solved left to right unless superseded by exceptions (e.g., exponents) as we've discussed. The issue has nothing to do with the left to right orientation. You've failed to see the core issue, yet your statement is so arrogant.
People get bent out of shape about this with the whole left to right thing. It's easily interpreted as both answers, but you were taught to read math problems like sentences (left to right) in third grade, so screw what a math professor says. Miss Johnson taught me it was PEMDAS when I was 9, so everyone else is stupid.
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