Poll: Solve a simple math problem
- Thread starter Flailing Escapist
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You guys need to learn to use Wolfram Alpha...
1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1-1+1+1+1+1+1+1*0 = 14
Although I'm with everyone who says it's ambiguous, because operator precedence is a convention, not a rule. This notation is ambiguous, hence the need for the operator precedence convention. There are other notations that aren't ambiguous and have no need for such a convention. 14 is the conventional answer, but not the right one: 0 is also a valid answer, if one assumes a different convention.
1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1-1+1+1+1+1+1+1*0 = 14
Although I'm with everyone who says it's ambiguous, because operator precedence is a convention, not a rule. This notation is ambiguous, hence the need for the operator precedence convention. There are other notations that aren't ambiguous and have no need for such a convention. 14 is the conventional answer, but not the right one: 0 is also a valid answer, if one assumes a different convention.
Why do people still think PEMDAS is exact order?
Parenthesis, than Exponents, than Multiplication and Division (left to right not Mult before Division), than Addition and Subtraction (order irrelevant).
The answer is 14.
Parenthesis, than Exponents, than Multiplication and Division (left to right not Mult before Division), than Addition and Subtraction (order irrelevant).
The answer is 14.
No. We should be able to preform simple, Repeat: SIMPLE, mathematical equations in our heads.DanDanikov said:
No. The equation given is not ambiguous in the slightest. The problem is that people don't look at the entire equation before then begin to form their answer. What's that saying? "Measure twice, cut once."
There is ONE clear answer, which is easily derived if you read the equation correctly.
The fact that about half of the people read the equation wrong isn't the fault of the equation, but that of the reader.
You did your order of operations right so you win. Unfortuantly it's not the correct answer because they snuck a -1 in there. So it's 14 not 16.Shock and Awe said:
But you did it in the correct order so congrats.
Math people need to start writing things in such a manner as they are to be read. In a real life situation (such as making a cut-list for construction, or determining how much water is needed for a pool), the problem would have physical representation that could easily be defined by this "order of operations."
Taking this problem as written, I was assuming I was a business, making $1 each time, with a $1 loss multiplied in the middle area later divided by "0". The asnwer should have been "0."
One would not provide all the words I have written in this post, then asked for the reader to attempt to put them in the proper order.
Taking this problem as written, I was assuming I was a business, making $1 each time, with a $1 loss multiplied in the middle area later divided by "0". The asnwer should have been "0."
One would not provide all the words I have written in this post, then asked for the reader to attempt to put them in the proper order.
Speaking of math, did it blow anyone else's mind when they first learned 1/infinity was 0?
Higher order operations come before lower order. It makes sense.
The 'way it is to be read' is really only applicable to languages which read left to right anyway.
If you learned the 'language' and conventions of mathematics this would be second nature to you.
Anything raised to the exponent of 0 is equal to 1, however.
Mathematicians have a system that works very well. And it's the order of operations.suicide samurai said:
Higher order operations come before lower order. It makes sense.
The 'way it is to be read' is really only applicable to languages which read left to right anyway.
If you learned the 'language' and conventions of mathematics this would be second nature to you.
Yes, you were lied to. Anything multiplied by zero is equal to zero.Togs said:
Anything raised to the exponent of 0 is equal to 1, however.
It's 14. But if you missed it, you arn't bad at math. Order of Operation generally doesn't come up in everyday life too often, and when it does, it's is almost never done in a way purposefully meant to confuse you. This problem is designed to make you take a glance at it, assume that it is trying to trick you into adding up the numbers and then just multiplying by 0, and making you jump on that before you process order of operations. In real math, this kind of problem wouldn't be phrased in this way. In real math, a multiply by 0 probably wouldn't even be in the original equation. If you answered 0, your math skills are probably fine. You fell for the deception, you didn't fail math. But at the end of the day, yes, the answer is 14.
I'm sorry. I blurted out one at first because
1. Forgot rule of PEMDAS
2. Thought that meant 1 to the power of 0.
Then I redid it. And got 14.
Did I do it right?
Edit: YAY I DIDN'T FAIL.
1. Forgot rule of PEMDAS
2. Thought that meant 1 to the power of 0.
Then I redid it. And got 14.
Did I do it right?
Edit: YAY I DIDN'T FAIL.
14.
PEMDAS, people, jeez.
Also, to everyone saying 16, there's a minus sign in there dudes. Also, to everyone saying 4, you do subtraction and addition in the order they're shown in.
Also, to all you "undefined" folks, in what universe would * be the symbol for division? I have never seen that before in my life. It's always been / where I come from.
PEMDAS, people, jeez.
Also, to everyone saying 16, there's a minus sign in there dudes. Also, to everyone saying 4, you do subtraction and addition in the order they're shown in.
Also, to all you "undefined" folks, in what universe would * be the symbol for division? I have never seen that before in my life. It's always been / where I come from.
