• nudny ekscentryk
    link
    fedilink
    3
    edit-2
    1 year ago

    And both you and people arguing that it’s 1 would be wrong.

    This problem is stated ambiguously and implied multiplication sign between 2 and ( is often interpreted as having priority. This is all matter of convention.

    • Vagabond
      link
      fedilink
      81 year ago

      I see what you’re getting at but the issue isn’t really the assumed multiplication symbol and it’s priority. It’s the fact that when there is implicit multiplication present in an algebraic expression, and really best practice for any math above algebra, you should never use the ‘÷’ symbol. You need to represent the division as a numerator and denominator which gets rid of any ambiguity since the problem will explicitly show whether (2+2) is modifying the numerator or denominator. Honestly after 7th grade I can’t say I ever saw a ‘÷’ being used and I guess this is why.

      That said, I’ll die on a hill that this is 16.

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        21 year ago

        the assumed multiplication symbol and it’s priority.

        Precedence is the term usually used for this (at least anywhere where computers have to parse expressions)

      • @MotoAsh
        link
        2
        edit-2
        1 year ago

        There is another example where the pemdas is even better covered than a simple parenthetical multiplication, but the answer there is the same: It’s the arbitrary syntax, not the math rules.

        You guys are both correct. It’s 16 and the problem is a syntax that implies a wrong order of operations. The syntax isn’t wrong, either, just implicative in your example and seemingly arbitrary in the other example I wish I remembered.