this post was submitted on 12 Dec 2023
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6÷2(1+2) (programming.dev)
submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by wischi@programming.dev to c/memes@lemmy.ml
 

https://zeta.one/viral-math/

I wrote a (very long) blog post about those viral math problems and am looking for feedback, especially from people who are not convinced that the problem is ambiguous.

It's about a 30min read so thank you in advance if you really take the time to read it, but I think it's worth it if you joined such discussions in the past, but I'm probably biased because I wrote it :)

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[–] Lemmygradwontallowme@hexbear.net 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (7 children)

The real question here is BODMAS or PEMDAS?

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[–] kuneho@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (10 children)

isn't that division sign I only saw Americans use written like this (÷) means it's a fraction? so it's 6÷2, since the divisor (or what is it called in english, the bottom half of the fraction) isn't in parenthesis, so it would be foolish to put the whole 2(1+2) down there, there's no reason for that.

so it's (6/2)*(1+2) which is 3*3 = 9.

the other way around would be 6÷(2(1+2)) if the whole expression is in the divisor and than that's 1.

tho I'm not really proficient in math, I have eventually failed it in university, but if I remember my teachers correctly, this should be the way. but again, where I live, we never use the ÷ sign, only in elementary school where we divide on paper. instead we use the fraction form, and with that, these kind of seemingly ambiguous expressions doesn't exist.

[–] SmartmanApps@programming.dev 1 points 1 year ago

written like this (÷) means it’s a fraction?

No, that means it's a division. i.e. a÷b. To indicate it's a fraction it would need to be written as (a÷b). i.e. make it a single term. Terms are separated by operators and joined by grouping symbols (such as brackets or fraction bars).

put the whole 2(1+2) down there, there’s no reason for that.

There is - it's a single bracketed term, subject to The Distributive Law. i.e. the B in BEDMAS.

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[–] Kowowow@lemmy.ca 0 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Nope it's bedmas since everything is brackets

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