this post was submitted on 07 Dec 2023
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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.
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 'Γ·' 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 'Γ·' being used and I guess this is why.
That said, I'll die on a hill that this is 16.
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.
If it involves Maths, then it's Maths rules.
It's 1
Do you not understand that syntax is its own set of rules?
Yes, the rules of Maths, as I was already saying. I'm a Maths teacher. I take it you didn't read the link then.
Precedence is the term usually used for this (at least anywhere where computers have to parse expressions)
Rest in peace
No, they're correct Order of operations thread index
It's not ambiguous, there's no such thing as implicit multiplication
...following the rules of Maths.
A matter of convention: true
Unless you specify you aren't using pemdas, that's generally the assumed order of ops.
This is not one of the ambiguous ones, but it's certainly written to be. Multiplication does indeed have priority under pemdas.
False. Actual rules of Maths
There aren't any ambiguous ones - #MathsIsNeverAmbiguous