Solve this equation

[cycloneG]

Answer 1. L to r only comes into play when there is more than one of the same item, such as two sets of parentheses.
View attachment 107919

Multiplication and division are the same rank so you do them in order left to right.

 

[pourcyne]

That's not an equation (no equal sign). I call TRICK QUESTION.

 

[pourcyne]

That's not an equation (no equal sign). I call TRICK QUESTION.

That said, order of operations is my friend and the answer is the loneliest number.

 

[3GENCY]

Math nerds unite!!!!!

 

[Rogue52]

The problem is that this is poorly written. The division sign should not be used. If you use a division sign, then there should be a multiplication sign too. The lack of a multiplication sign brings in the possibly implied parenthesis as a fraction.

8 / (2(2+2))

 

[2122]

1

 

[cstrunk]

The correct answer to this EXPRESSION is 1.

8
--------
2 (2+2)

 

[AllInForISU]

Is this the same expression?

No

The problem is that this is poorly written. The division sign should not be used. If you use a division sign, then there should be a multiplication sign too. The lack of a multiplication sign brings in the possibly implied parenthesis as a fraction.

8 / (2(2+2))

How do you figure? It’s generally accepted that a(b) means a*b. This would be the same case.

 

[AllInForISU]

The correct answer to this EXPRESSION is 1.

8
--------
2 (2+2)

I agree with this, but this is not what was written.

 

[Rogue52]

No

How do you figure? It’s generally accepted that a(b) means a*b. This would be the same case.

And it’s generally accepted in algebra that division signs are not used. Division should be expressed in fractional terms.

The point is to avoid ambiguity like this. Said better, the person is mixing nomenclatures.

It should either be:

8 division sign 2 x (2+2) = 16 or

8 / (2(2+2)) = 1

 

[AllInForISU]

And it’s generally accepted in algebra that division signs are not used. Division should be expressed in fractional terms.

The point is to avoid ambiguity like this.

Completely agree with avoiding ambiguity. But you would use the division sign if it is there correct? Regardless of if that is what is accepted, you use what is given to you.

 

[cycloneG]

 

[Farnsworth]

Can't you rewrite x(2+2) as (2x+2x)?

So It would be 8/(2x+2x), replace x with 2 and you get 1.

 

[simply1]

https://mindyourdecisions.com/blog/2019/07/31/what-is-8-÷-22-2-the-correct-answer-explained/

 

[Farnsworth]

Next let's play the 1 equals 2 game.

 

[cyfanbr]

I hate posts like this. Like others have said, it is terribly written and meant to cause confusion. Anyone with more than 2 brain cells would re-write it to avoid any confusion.

 

[mynameisjonas]

1

Next?

 

[besserheimerphat]

I never learned the left to right thing, always multiplication first then division.

For multiplication and addition, the left-to-right order doesn't actually matter but for division and subtraction it does.

1×2×3 = 3×1×2 =...
1÷2÷3 ≠ 3÷1÷2

1+2+3 = 3+1+2 =...
1-2-3 ≠ 3-1-2

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

I hate posts like this. Like others have said, it is terribly written and meant to cause confusion. Anyone with more than 2 brain cells would re-write it to avoid any confusion.

Next time just write you hate fun

 

[Rogue52]

Completely agree with avoiding ambiguity. But you would use the division sign if it is there correct? Regardless of if that is what is accepted, you use what is given to you.

I agree with your answer (16) because it follows order of operations, but nomenclatures are being mixed is my point. Someone posted a link in this thread that explains it in a lot of detail. Comes down to what is the accepted interpretation today.