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On April 08 2011 15:30 Capook wrote:This thread is hilarious  . Obviously, it's a matter of convention. However, since programming languages would give 2, and math people would say "notation is ambiguous" or "you're an idiot for trying to use this kind of notation", I think 2 is the clear winner, and has my vote, as an upcoming physics phd. I do agree and pick 2 as well, but what programming languages would give 2? I just threw it on the python shell and it gave me 288. So did both google and wolfram alpha. Still, when using it on a real program, I would use parenthesis correctly. And would never write like in the OP.
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On April 08 2011 15:27 Tatari wrote:Show nested quote +On April 08 2011 14:34 Annoying wrote:proof that answer = 2 If you have 48/2(9+3) The 2 is attached to the (9+3), anyone who even got past algebra should remember factoring an equation out. Example: 2(a+b)=2a+2b 2(9+3)=(18+6) From there you get 48/(18+6)=48/24=2 not my work but i don't see how can this be wrong. for proof, check out http://www.purplemath.com/modules/orderops2.htm 5th example. God. This irritates me to no end. Do some people not get anywhere with basic math education? The only reason why you distribute is because there is a variable (in that case, x). The reason why you don't do that in here is because all the numbers have known values and you apply the order of operations instead of screwing around.
It doesn't matter, you don't apply different math. You may distribute all you wish. You can write 48=(3+45) if you so wish, and then use whichever rule/technique you like to get rid of the brackets.
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Well this just put me back into reality. I always thought this was common sense. Pretty sure I learned PEMDAS (and that M and D are equal in priority) in like 5th grade.
And people, stop arguing that 1/2x is 1/(2x). It is definitely (1/2)x.
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On April 08 2011 15:32 Turo wrote:I believe the division sign stopped being used around elementary school. I don't think it should even be taught lol
It absolutely shouldn't, that and x being used for multiplication.
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this notation would NEVER be used so I get it it's manipulating the order of operations and stuff but this question is quite irrelevant IMO.
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The way I see it there are 2 ways of viewing this thread:
1) The answer to this question is simple. There are intelligent people on one side of the debate and morons on the other. Anyone who does not get the same answer that you did obviously struggles with middle-school math or can't read text on a screen or is missing some key portion of his or her brain or is in some other way a highly deficient human being and an embarrassment to the rest of the species.
or
2) The answer to this question is not so simple. There are rational, intelligent, and well-educated individuals who have come down on either side of the debate or who have come down on no side at all—instead suggesting that there is an certain ambiguity in the way that the notation is written. Someone who did not get the same answer that you did might have had a perfectly reasonable thought process behind his or her choice.
...
...
...
Now I admit it. I admit it: the second option is nowhere near as fun as the first option because it doesn't allow you to give yourself a big pat on the algebraic back and denigrate the mental capacities of everyone who disagrees with you.
Nevertheless, I think it's probably the more compelling choice.
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On April 08 2011 15:41 HULKAMANIA wrote:
The way I see it there are 2 ways of viewing this thread:
1) The answer to this question is simple. There are intelligent people on one side of the debate and morons on the other. Anyone who does not get the same answer that you did obviously struggles with middle-school math or can't read text on a screen or is missing some key portion of his or her brain or is in some other way a highly deficient human being and an embarrassment to the rest of the species.
or
2) The answer to this question is not so simple. There are rational, intelligent, and well-educated individuals who have come down on either side of the debate or who have come down on no side at all—instead suggesting that there is an certain ambiguity in the way that the notation is written. Someone who did not get the same answer that you did might have had a perfectly reasonable thought process behind his or her choice.
...
...
...
Now I admit it. I admit it: the second option is nowhere near as fun as the first option because it doesn't allow you to give yourself a big pat on the algebraic back and denigrate the mental capacities of everyone who disagrees with you.
Nevertheless, I think it's probably the more compelling choice.
I view the thread as how statistical results do complete turn arounds based on small details and how people argue that they're right either way while others are in the wrong (Y). It's fascinating
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Wow.. what the? I can't believed the poll..
It's 288..It's basic math..
I can understand the poll of the second math question because it can really go both ways depends on how you view it. There's better ways of writing that math. As for the first math problem Seriously!?!?!? I think there should be a poll with US resident, voted 288/US resident voted 2 and Not US resident, voted 288/Not US resident, voted 2. From the couple page I glance at, the people say 2 are from another country.
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On April 08 2011 15:41 iSiN wrote:
this notation would NEVER be used so I get it it's manipulating the order of operations and stuff but this question is quite irrelevant IMO.
Actually, the second problem is common notation in higher level math. Not sure where you are getting that idea. The only reason I don't see the first one in my math courses is because I haven't seen a division sign in years. When you are surrounded by math Ph.D.'s, you don't need to use nor do you see unnecessary brackets.
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Out of curiosity.
How would most people here interpret 3^3^3?
Is it 3^27 or 27^3?
And then, why would you ever not just write down (3^3)^3 or 3^(3^3)?
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On April 08 2011 15:43 BluePanther wrote:
It's both, depending on the notation standard you are using.
Basic algebra rules will give 288.
Basic computer languages will give 2.
Was that clear enough?
wouldn't the correct way to express it in algebra be
48/2(9+3)=
48/2(12)=
48/24=2
???
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On April 08 2011 15:44 Cutlery wrote:Show nested quote +On April 08 2011 15:41 HULKAMANIA wrote:
The way I see it there are 2 ways of viewing this thread:
1) The answer to this question is simple. There are intelligent people on one side of the debate and morons on the other. Anyone who does not get the same answer that you did obviously struggles with middle-school math or can't read text on a screen or is missing some key portion of his or her brain or is in some other way a highly deficient human being and an embarrassment to the rest of the species.
or
2) The answer to this question is not so simple. There are rational, intelligent, and well-educated individuals who have come down on either side of the debate or who have come down on no side at all—instead suggesting that there is an certain ambiguity in the way that the notation is written. Someone who did not get the same answer that you did might have had a perfectly reasonable thought process behind his or her choice.
...
...
...
Now I admit it. I admit it: the second option is nowhere near as fun as the first option because it doesn't allow you to give yourself a big pat on the algebraic back and denigrate the mental capacities of everyone who disagrees with you.
Nevertheless, I think it's probably the more compelling choice. I view the thread as how statistics do complete turn arounds based on small details and how people argue that they're right either way while others are in the wrong (Y). It's fascinating
You lost me there. Is that like a math and/or programming joke? Because to be honest I'm more on the liberal arts side of campus.
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On April 08 2011 15:45 Robstickle wrote:
Out of curiosity.
How would most people here interpret 3^3^3?
Is it 3^27 or 27^3?
27^3
Not that there's any difference...
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On April 08 2011 15:14 Assymptotic wrote:Show nested quote +On April 08 2011 15:07 HaNdFisH wrote:On April 08 2011 14:49 Assymptotic wrote:
And now for a pedantic proof:
Since we have 48, 2, 9, and 3, I will assume we're working within the field of real numbers (if we were working in the ring of integers, this problem gets ugly), which I will denote as R.
We know a few things about R.
R is equipped with the binary operations addition and multiplication, + and * respectively. Let a, b, and c be arbitrary elements in R.
The following properties hold:
1) For any a and b within R, a+b is still within R
2) For any a, b, and c in R, a+(b+c)=(a+b)+c
3) For any a in R, there exists a 0, which we will call the additive identity unit, such that a+0=0+a=a
4) For any a in R, there exists an additive inverse element -a, such that a+(-a)=0=(-a)+a
5) For any a and b in R, a+b=b+a
Note: These first five axioms are equivalent to saying that R is an abelian group with respect to addition, denoted as (R,+)
6) For any a and b in R, a*b is still contained in R
7) For any a, b, and c in R, a*(b*c)=(a*b)*c
8) For any nonzero element a in R, there exists a multiplicative inverse element a^(-1), such that a*a^(-1)=1=a^(-1)*a
9) For any a, b in R, a*b=b*a
10) For any a in R, there exists a multiplicative identity element, which we will call 1, such that a*1=1*a
Note: Axioms 6-10 are equivalent to saying that R minus the 0 element is an abelian group with respect to multiplication, denoted (R\{0}, *).
11) For any a, b, and c in R, a*(b+c)=a*c+a*c and (a+b)*c=a*c+b*c. This is called the distributive property.
Note: The notation ÷ is equivalent to multiplying the number to its immediate right by it's inverse.
e.g. a÷b=a*b^(-1)
Additional Note: When multiplying, the * symbol is sometimes removed for convenience.
e.g. a*b=ab or a(b+c)=ab+ac=a*b+a*c=a*(b+c)
48÷2(9+3)
=48*2^(-1)*(9+3)
=24*(9+3)
=24*9+24*3
=216+72
=288
*defines a field* *Adds a note on how to interpret notation* - In some cases implicit multiplication is given priority over explicit multiplication/division. *Gets 2* Is the process of defining a field meant to bully people into thinking you are right by having a wall of text? No, it's meant to be humorous. When I said the phrase "And now for a pedantic proof," I said the word 'now' in the a higher, somewhat silly tone. Imagine a Disney princess saying it or something. I was thinking about italicizing that phrase, should I? I also got the answer '2' when I glanced at the OP. I only arrived at 288 after cranking out that wall of text line for line.
Haha, okay then my bad. Misinterpreted your intent, just like how it is possible with the question at hand.
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On April 08 2011 15:45 ISighZ wrote:
Wow.. what the? I can't believed the poll..
It's 288..It's basic math..
I can understand the poll of the second math question because it can really go both ways depends on how you view it. There's better ways of writing that math. As for the first math problem Seriously!?!?!? I think there should be a poll with US resident, voted 288/US resident voted 2 and Not US resident, voted 288/Not US resident, voted 2. From the couple page I glance at, the people say 2 are from another country.
I wish I had a report button for people like you. TL is an international site, and you're a jerk.
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On April 08 2011 15:46 chonkyfire wrote:Show nested quote +On April 08 2011 15:43 BluePanther wrote:
It's both, depending on the notation standard you are using.
Basic algebra rules will give 288.
Basic computer languages will give 2.
Was that clear enough? wouldn't the correct way to express it in algebra be 48/2(9+3)= 48/2(12)= 48/24=2 ???
no, it's strict order of operations, and therefore 288.
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I'm 100% sure the answer is 2 so I'm going to vote now finally.
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On April 08 2011 15:47 BluePanther wrote:Show nested quote +On April 08 2011 15:46 chonkyfire wrote:On April 08 2011 15:43 BluePanther wrote:
It's both, depending on the notation standard you are using.
Basic algebra rules will give 288.
Basic computer languages will give 2.
Was that clear enough? wouldn't the correct way to express it in algebra be 48/2(9+3)= 48/2(12)= 48/24=2 ??? no, it's strict order of operations, and therefore 288.
yeah strict order
2(12) comes before 48/2 in 48/2(12)
P for... parenthesis
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On April 08 2011 15:47 Turo wrote:Show nested quote +On April 08 2011 15:45 ISighZ wrote:
Wow.. what the? I can't believed the poll..
It's 288..It's basic math..
I can understand the poll of the second math question because it can really go both ways depends on how you view it. There's better ways of writing that math. As for the first math problem Seriously!?!?!? I think there should be a poll with US resident, voted 288/US resident voted 2 and Not US resident, voted 288/Not US resident, voted 2. From the couple page I glance at, the people say 2 are from another country. I wish I had a report button for people like you. TL is an international site, and you're a jerk.
Huh? What did I do? I'm just interested in the outcome of that. I'm curious to know if different country taught math differently geez. I do not get why you are angry.
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EPT
