xSxqPowerx Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 It's deliberately confusing.Really should be another pair or brackets indicating whether the (9+3) is on the top or the bottom of the equation. However, yes, when it's written out like this going left to right is the correct approach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orpheus Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 In any case, this problem is not clear enough in terms of what's going with what, even with BIDMAS, PEMDAS, GEMA (what the [bleep] is this). It's not clearly defined how to do this problem correctly. It's still 288 unless brackets/more parentheses say otherwise.GEMA is: GroupingExponentsMultiplication and divisionAddition and subtraction Ah. Never heard of that. I was going to eat hot dogs for dinner tonight. I think I will settle for cereal. OPEN WIDE HERE COMES THE HELICOPTER. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justcallmedaddy Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 This is a 7th grade Pre-Algebra problem.....psh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giordano Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 It doesn't even matter whether you use PEMDAS, BIDMAS, GAMA, PETA, or whatever, it's all the same thing. There's enough information to solve the problem. It may not be in the correct usage/form, but "How are you?" and "h0w r u?" both are understandable. "The cry of the poor is not always just, but if you never hear it you'll never know what justice is." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magbill Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 Got 288 using BODMAS, pretty easy stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leyenda Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 is this thread serious? did your professor laugh when you asked him this question? All skills 70+ Trails: 2 x Rune platebody (g)Barrows: 1 x Dharok's legsDrops: 1 x Dragon skirt | 1 x Dragon defender Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamtaro Posted April 11, 2011 Author Share Posted April 11, 2011 ^No, but I laughed when you couldn't read the first post. Player since 2004. All skills 1M+ XP."If it were possible to cure evils by lamentation..., then gold would be a less valuable thing than weeping." - Sophocles"Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws." - Plato Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulxai Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 I really don't see how anyone who has passed basic algebra doesn't get 288... ~ Proud Father ~ Proud (Currently Deployed) Army National Guardsmen ~ Proud Lakota ~ Retired Tip.It Crew ~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will H Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 It doesn't even matter whether you use PEMDAS, BIDMAS, GAMA, PETA, or whatever, it's all the same thing. There's enough information to solve the problem. It may not be in the correct usage/form, but "How are you?" and "h0w r u?" both are understandable. Mathematics is strictly a logical system of numbers and symbols, there is a right and a wrong way of doing it. If it's ambiguous, it's wrong. Written/spoken languages only use a logical system as a guideline, you are allowed to use creative and ambiguous derivatives to get across subtleties. They are not the same. There needs to be another bracket to clarify, or the question needs to be fully displayed to show where the (9+3) lies relative to the division line. It's not too much to ask for. ~ W ~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nenga Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 It's clear enough without it if you follow the rules. You do whatever function is in parentheses first, and then do the problem from left to right with the answer you got in the parentheses. We don't write 1x^1, it's just understood that whenever you see x as a variable, it's that way. As such, we write 48/2(9+3) because it should be understood that it's operated like (48/2)(9+3). Ponies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xSxqPowerx Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 Still, my general rule is to use excessive brackets when typing out equations. Either way - typing math sucks :razz: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furah Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 I love maths. It and science. Steam | PM me for BBM PIN Nine naked men is a technological achievement. Quote of 2013. PCGamingWiki - Let's fix PC gaming! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 I see now how the question is somewhat ambiguous, and it's open to interpretation. Saying that, it is kind of impossible to answer seeing as they don't specify whether they want you to do 48/(2(9+3)) or (48/2)(9+3)... I'd still go with 288 though, seems more logical with BIDMAS. RIP TET "That which does not kill us makes us stronger." - Friedrich Nietzsche Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giordano Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 I see now how the question is somewhat ambiguous, and it's open to interpretation. Saying that, it is kind of impossible to answer seeing as they don't specify whether they want you to do 48/(2(9+3)) or (48/2)(9+3)... I'd still go with 288 though, seems more logical with BIDMAS.How can math be ambiguous? Its one answer, no matter what. Or else it wouldn't be math. "The cry of the poor is not always just, but if you never hear it you'll never know what justice is." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nenga Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 I see now how the question is somewhat ambiguous, and it's open to interpretation. Saying that, it is kind of impossible to answer seeing as they don't specify whether they want you to do 48/(2(9+3)) or (48/2)(9+3)... I'd still go with 288 though, seems more logical with BIDMAS.If you were expected to do 48/(2(9+2)) then they'd specify that way. Why would you give somebody 442+567 and then tell them they're wrong when they don't come up with 2. Ponies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dark Lord Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 [spoiler=Solution]PEMDAS 48/2 * (9+3)=24(9+3) Distributive property... = 216 + 72= 288 SWAG Mayn U wanna be like me but U can't be me cuz U ain't got ma swagga on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blakdragon39 Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 Aah yeah, I voted 2, but after reading, of course its 288. :mellow: I think if it had been shown like this: 48/2*(9+3) instead of with the division symbol (which doesn't seem to exist on my keyboard :P) more people would get that answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulxai Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 [spoiler=Solution]PEMDAS 48/2 * (9+3)=24(9+3) Distributive property... = 216 + 72= 288 You can't use the distributive property if you use Pemdas...the first letter of Pemdas is Parenthesis, which would make it 48/2*12... Same answer, just pointing that out. ~ Proud Father ~ Proud (Currently Deployed) Army National Guardsmen ~ Proud Lakota ~ Retired Tip.It Crew ~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dark Lord Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 At least I didn't come up with 2. SWAG Mayn U wanna be like me but U can't be me cuz U ain't got ma swagga on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K4ylan Posted April 15, 2011 Share Posted April 15, 2011 48/1 x 1/2 (9+3) 48/1 x 1/2 (12) 48/1 x 1/24 48/24 2 Poorly written question tbh with a degree of ambiguity on whether the parenthesis are attached to the two or are a whole number. 1/2(12) would still be six as the 1/2 is outside the parenthesis, indicating that it would just be 1/2 × 12 = 6. In your equation, it would be multiplying the 2 and 12 together first, which wouldn't be going left to right. ~~~The Harpy List~~~Harpy Facts~~~It's Super Effective~~~The Beginning~~~Harpy Therapy Center~~~Alg~~~Jedi Harpy~~~Rohirrim~~~Attenuation~~~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will H Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 I see now how the question is somewhat ambiguous, and it's open to interpretation. Saying that, it is kind of impossible to answer seeing as they don't specify whether they want you to do 48/(2(9+3)) or (48/2)(9+3)... I'd still go with 288 though, seems more logical with BIDMAS.How can math be ambiguous? Its one answer, no matter what. Or else it wouldn't be math. Questions can be ambiguous. Answers and the maths within can't be ambiguous and still be correct, even if the answer is that the question is ambiguous. The mistake here is with the syntax, not the maths itself. We're not destroying the fabric of causality here, we're just saying that the asker should have typed in a goddamn bracket. ~ W ~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giordano Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 I see now how the question is somewhat ambiguous, and it's open to interpretation. Saying that, it is kind of impossible to answer seeing as they don't specify whether they want you to do 48/(2(9+3)) or (48/2)(9+3)... I'd still go with 288 though, seems more logical with BIDMAS.How can math be ambiguous? Its one answer, no matter what. Or else it wouldn't be math. Questions can be ambiguous. Answers and the maths within can't be ambiguous and still be correct, even if the answer is that the question is ambiguous. The mistake here is with the syntax, not the maths itself. We're not destroying the fabric of causality here, we're just saying that the asker should have typed in a goddamn bracket.I still don't see how this question is even remotely ambiguous. There's a reason why PEMDAS/BIDMAS/whatever exists. I don't know how your experience with math went, but I've always been given expressions with the least possible amount of brackets possible. "The cry of the poor is not always just, but if you never hear it you'll never know what justice is." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will H Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 I see now how the question is somewhat ambiguous, and it's open to interpretation. Saying that, it is kind of impossible to answer seeing as they don't specify whether they want you to do 48/(2(9+3)) or (48/2)(9+3)... I'd still go with 288 though, seems more logical with BIDMAS.How can math be ambiguous? Its one answer, no matter what. Or else it wouldn't be math. Questions can be ambiguous. Answers and the maths within can't be ambiguous and still be correct, even if the answer is that the question is ambiguous. The mistake here is with the syntax, not the maths itself. We're not destroying the fabric of causality here, we're just saying that the asker should have typed in a goddamn bracket.I still don't see how this question is even remotely ambiguous. There's a reason why PEMDAS/BIDMAS/whatever exists. I don't know how your experience with math went, but I've always been given expressions with the least possible amount of brackets possible. There is a confusion about whether just the 2 is multiplied by the (9+3), or if the whole 48/2 fraction is multiplied by the (9+3). Division and Multiplication occupy the same 'priority', so it's ambiguous even if BIDMAS gets involved. You wouldn't get this problem if it was fully displayed. The best approach with text equations is 'When in doubt, put brackets in to clarify'. You're not going to get any prizes for efficient text equation writing when it causes this amount of confusion. ~ W ~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furah Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 I see now how the question is somewhat ambiguous, and it's open to interpretation. Saying that, it is kind of impossible to answer seeing as they don't specify whether they want you to do 48/(2(9+3)) or (48/2)(9+3)... I'd still go with 288 though, seems more logical with BIDMAS.How can math be ambiguous? Its one answer, no matter what. Or else it wouldn't be math. Questions can be ambiguous. Answers and the maths within can't be ambiguous and still be correct, even if the answer is that the question is ambiguous. The mistake here is with the syntax, not the maths itself. We're not destroying the fabric of causality here, we're just saying that the asker should have typed in a goddamn bracket.I still don't see how this question is even remotely ambiguous. There's a reason why PEMDAS/BIDMAS/whatever exists. I don't know how your experience with math went, but I've always been given expressions with the least possible amount of brackets possible. There is a confusion about whether just the 2 is multiplied by the (9+3), or if the whole 48/2 fraction is multiplied by the (9+3). Division and Multiplication occupy the same 'priority', so it's ambiguous even if BIDMAS gets involved. You wouldn't get this problem if it was fully displayed. The best approach with text equations is 'When in doubt, put brackets in to clarify'. You're not going to get any prizes for efficient text equation writing when it causes this amount of confusion.When they're in the same priority you work it out from left to right. Steam | PM me for BBM PIN Nine naked men is a technological achievement. Quote of 2013. PCGamingWiki - Let's fix PC gaming! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will H Posted April 16, 2011 Share Posted April 16, 2011 Actually, yeah, you're right about the left-to-right thing, I partially retract that statement. You will get a consistent answer (which is of course 288) if you throw it into a good calculator like Wolfram Alpha, but many humans don't approach questions the same way. A question of BIDMAS only seems to pop up when the whoever's asking the question is being intentionally sloppy and a little big annoying. Blah, I should stop caring about these kinds of things. ~ W ~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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