Poll: Solve a simple math problem

[neoptolemus]

Shit I missed the minus sign and voted 16. Duuh. My vote goes to the non-existant option: "Who the heck writes expressions like that??"

 

[Flailing Escapist]

Who cares? The answer is 14, but even if I said it was 5000, it still proves nothing. Adult intelligence should not be measured by 4th grade math. A person can pretty much do this for any subject and we'd all fail one eventually. Problems like these are the whole reason the show, "Are you smarter than a 5th grader," exists.

I'm not using this as a standard to point out how smart anybody is, I am mearly pointing out that this is a simple "5th grade" question can be easily missed if you don't pay attention(in school). And I understand it's tricky, that's part of it's diabolical nature. But I didn't write it I just put it up on a wall and pointed "Everybody, look at this problem! Isn't it stupid how it trys to squirm it's way off the wall? Look and laugh, children!".

 

[Aethren]

So a couple weeks ago I bumped into this math "problem":
1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1-1+1+1+1+1+1+1x0=?
[small]And yes in this case x means multiplication.(what? I'm a lazy typer that's too unfamiliar with doing math online. Paper rocks)[/small]

The answer is pretty simple, I got it on my first try. But a lot of my friends and classmates couldn't solve it right away; and most of them are college students which is really sad. This is stuff you should study in middle school. Take a stab at it!

Divided by 0? I thought it was multiplied by 0. Dividing by 0 would get you infinity, even if you use the correct order of operations.

You sir, deserve a medal and everyone else that knows better than to divide be zero deserves a star. I wasn't paying attention (fuck!) but you're right it is multiplied.

Spoiler: Need a hint?

I'm kidding, you don't get one.

Using BIDMAS it become
10 - 6+(1x0) = ?
10-6=4

You need to correct your poll. It's 4.

You need to correct your math. It's not 4.

1x0 = 0
1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1 = 10
10-1 = 9
9+1+1+1+1+1 = 14
14+0 = 14

 

[inFAMOUSCowZ]

Its 14, but I can see why people might be surprised if they tried to rush it or missed the minus sign.

 

[Pinkamena]

I am flabbergasted that 141 people have actually voted "0".
BRACKETS, ************, DO YOU KNOW THEM?!

[img width?200]http://mimg.ugo.com/200809/22582/samuel-l-jackson-top-11-pulp-fiction.jpg[/img]

 

[Double A]

It's sad that half of all Escapists don't know what parenthesis are.

 

[ProfessorLayton]

Ugh... it's not "sad" if you didn't see the subtraction sign. It's something easily looked over and a lot of people do. I can bet that you didn't immediately notice it.

This doesn't measure your "intelligence" at all, it measures your ability to count and I'm tired of people acting superior because they got the answer right and weren't tricked by a problem that was specifically written to trick people.

EDIT: Sorry if I sound bitter, but this is all over the internet and I'm tired of seeing it.

 

[Norendithas]

You sneaky bastard. It's Order of Operations! xD

Way to whip out the Algebra. D:

 

[Kais86]

It depends on the order of operations you are operating under. This is the standard: http://math.about.com/library/weekly/aa040502a.htm
Which means the answer is 14.

 

[Xaio30]

This why we have parentheses.

The answer is 14, by the way.

 

[Xisin]

Who cares? The answer is 14, but even if I said it was 5000, it still proves nothing. Adult intelligence should not be measured by 4th grade math. A person can pretty much do this for any subject and we'd all fail one eventually. Problems like these are the whole reason the show, "Are you smarter than a 5th grader," exists.

I'm not using this as a standard to point out how smart anybody is, I am mearly pointing out that this is a simple "5th grade" question can be easily missed if you don't pay attention(in school). And I understand it's tricky, that's part of it's diabolical nature. But I didn't write it I just put it up on a wall and pointed "Everybody, look at this problem! Isn't it stupid how it trys to squirm it's way off the wall? Look and laugh, children!".

I disagree with the, "if you don't pay attention(in school)," part. At perhaps 10, the order operations would be fresh in my mind. At 20, if I'm in a college math course like calculus, most math formulas would be ingrained. By 30, if my career has nothing to do with math, the order of operations is as important as the name of my 1st grade teacher.

The human brain tends to discard very old things that it no longer needs. I had over a decade of Spanish and my ability to speak it is now rudimentary at best. I just never have need of it.

Saying your college friend is sad seems a harsh criticism. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that questions like these aren't looking for an answer. You already know it, of course. You seem to be looking for how many people will stumble. (shrugs) Thus why I think it's pointless.

 

[Athlonis]

Clicks "0"

Realizes he's been working with way to many brackets and started auto assuming them.

Facepalm.

The answer is 14....

 

[Commissar Sae]

Nope, can't do it. I've seen it before but I still don't care. I'm a historian not a mathematician. I can tell you about Cheyenne Warfare, Soviet propaganda, Prussian industrialism and Chinese golden age bureaucracy though.

I'm an adult now, I really don't need to do trivial math problems.

 

[Zukhramm]

OH it's this thread. Again. If there's one thing I have learned, it's not to discuss mathematics on the Escapist forums. It can only lead to pain.

 

[AngryMongoose]

Finding the answer would involve, like, counting. I'll just Wolfram it.

 

[crop52]

That shit is bull.

Math can suck it. I always preferred language arts/English.

 

[Coller]

14. I understand people can get it wrong, but those who insist on theyre answer being right, even though it's wrong, make me want to strangle kittens. Those poor, innocent kittens. You heartless monsters.

 

[Hexenwolf]

[small]And yes, in this case x means multiplication.(what? I'm a lazy typer that's too unfamiliar with doing math online. Paper rocks)[/small]

The most common way to type out a multiplication symbol is an asterisk: *

The answer is minus infinity.
(1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1)-(1+1+1+1+1+1+(1/0))
=10-(6+infinity)
=10-infinity
=-infinity
If the end was 1*0= then the answer would be 4 as adding brackets the sum equates to
(1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1)-(1+1+1+1+1+1+(1*0))
=10-(6+0)
=4

...
...
...
...whut

I just added brackets to show the order of operations. Also i refuse to use x as a multiplication symbol on a computer as this just confuses it with algebra.

Then you did it wrong. the - 1 is just subtracting one from the total. It doesn't mean subtract the other half of the equation. The brackets would have to be a part of the original problem to imply that.
The best way to write this would probably be.

(1*0) + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 +1 + 1 + 1 +1 + 1 + 1 +1 + 1 + 1 - 1 = 14
(Addition is commutative, so re-arranging the equation is entirely permitted)

I agree that -1 is just subtracting one from the total, but what we're taught in school is that the order of operations is that you do addition then subtraction. So taking this to the logical conclusion would lead to the answer being 4. I don't like it but thats what we're taught.

Then you were taught poorly. Yes, in the acronym PEMDAS, subtraction comes after addition (and division comes after multiplication), but every teacher I've ever had that even touched on the subject always made a point of saying that subtraction and addition (and also multiplication and division), are equal in the hierarchy. Because they are. They simply have to put one before the other for the acronym because that's how language works, there isn't a single word that means both. But addition is most definitely not higher in the order of operations than subtraction (nor is it lower).

 

[Zukhramm]

Then you were taught poorly. Yes, in the acronym PEMDAS, subtraction comes after addition (and division comes after multiplication), but every teacher I've ever had that even touched on the subject always made a point of saying that subtraction and addition (and also multiplication and division), are equal in the hierarchy. Because they are. They simply have to put one before the other for the acronym because that's how language works, there isn't a single word that means both. But addition is most definitely not higher in the order of operations than subtraction (nor is it lower).

I think the whole idea of teaching this "PEMDAS" thing is bad. I never heard of it until I started seeing this type of maths threads on the internet. I don't think it's a good thing to just memorize rules instead of actually understanding what's going on.

 

[Flailing Escapist]

Who cares? The answer is 14, but even if I said it was 5000, it still proves nothing. Adult intelligence should not be measured by 4th grade math. A person can pretty much do this for any subject and we'd all fail one eventually. Problems like these are the whole reason the show, "Are you smarter than a 5th grader," exists.

I'm not using this as a standard to point out how smart anybody is, I am mearly pointing out that this is a simple "5th grade" question can be easily missed if you don't pay attention(in school). And I understand it's tricky, that's part of it's diabolical nature. But I didn't write it I just put it up on a wall and pointed "Everybody, look at this problem! Isn't it stupid how it trys to squirm it's way off the wall? Look and laugh, children!".

I disagree with the, "if you don't pay attention(in school)," part. At perhaps 10, the order operations would be fresh in my mind. At 20, if I'm in a college math course like calculus, most math formulas would be ingrained. By 30, if my career has nothing to do with math, the order of operations is as important as the name of my 1st grade teacher.

The human brain tends to discard very old things that it no longer needs. I had over a decade of Spanish and my ability to speak it is now rudimentary at best. I just never have need of it.

Saying your college friend is sad seems a harsh criticism. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that questions like these aren't looking for an answer. You already know it, of course. You seem to be looking for how many people will stumble. (shrugs) Thus why I think it's pointless.

I disagree, none of my college friends are 30. Matter of fact only a few over them are over 20; they should be hard pressed to forget something as simple as pemdas. But then again, none of them are math or science majors so I won't hold it against them.

You seem to be looking for how many people will stumble.

You're right. I'm keeping track with the white board on my wall because I'm a giaaaaaaaaant prick.
[small](It's labeled "People who suck at basic math and nothing else")[/small]