this post was submitted on 03 Dec 2023
416 points (100.0% liked)
196
16501 readers
22 users here now
Be sure to follow the rule before you head out.
Rule: You must post before you leave.
founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
Implicit multiplication takes priority over explicit multiplication or division. 2(2+2) is not the same thing as 2*(2+2).
Correct! 2(2+2) is a single term - subject to The Distributive Law - and 2x(2+2) is 2 terms. Those who added a multiply sign there have effectively flipped the (2+2) from being in the denominator to being in the numerator, hence the wrong answer.
But it's not called "implicit multiplication" - it's Terms and/or The Distributive Law which applies (and they're 2 separate rules, so you cannot lump them together as a single rule).