6÷2(1+2)=?

BTW, I was advised once to use enough parenthesis to never come to this situation. It worked well for me.

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When I used a simple expression like 1+1 embedded in lots of parenthesis, the BASIC interpreter replied "Expression too complicated"

atferrari said:

I wonder what the OP expected. Just one reply? He knows that the expression has two results depending of how you solve the implied multiplication.

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Of course it can be read as having 2 results, that is the whole point.

TBH I believe there is only 1 way to solve it. I do see how it can be ambiguous though.

Here is a reply I wrote in the other forum:

I think the problem arises because people who have done lots of algebra treat it as

6÷(2(1+2)) = 1

the same way Wolfram|Alpha treats algebra.

Whereas people who are familiar with only the BODMAS method, treat it as

(6÷2)(1+2) = 9

the same way Wolfram|Alpha treats sums.

So to people who have done lots of algebra, factoring the equation first (A(B+C)=(AB+AC)) is the most natural way.

I personally have been taught that juxtaposition takes priority over other divisions/multiplications, so I use the same rule that the American Mathematical Society uses for it's submission guidelines.

LOT of, is maybe too much

KeepItSimpleStupid said:

When I used a simple expression like 1+1 embedded in lots of parenthesis, the BASIC interpreter replied "Expression too complicated"

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Have you tried with just two?

This was some 35+ years ago on a timesharing DEC PDP-11/20 or 11/50 running RSTS-11 and used Basic-Plus an intermediate code interpreter.

I wrote something like:

10 A=(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((1))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
(assume the parens are matched)
and got the error
"Expression to Complicated"

I loved to push the envelope and I could crash the machine at will for all 16 or 32 users at the time.

Hey, the breaks are artifacts of VB. They are not in my input.

Gobbledok said:

the same way Wolfram|Alpha treats algebra.

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In that example "a/b(c+d)" Wolfram Alpha treats 'b' as a function call. Try putting a space after the 'b' and you will get a different answer.

There is a new math equation on FB

SneaKSz said:

There is a new math equation on FB

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I saw one of these that was asking what 2+2x2 equaled. Somebody actually started arguing with me, saying it was 8

If you are trying to complicate things, and write in a way that can have more than one outcome, then you are writing poorly.

Math is (supposed to be) a universal language. This should be written in a left to right order, using signs; not implied multiplication.

Also, If you were using this like:

The combination to the lock is
4+6, 15*5, and 6÷2(1+2)

We know that is unclear.

Convert the division to a fraction and re-write.

Depends on what you mean? Multiplication is always done first. The x can be interpreted as multiply or it can be interpreted as x.

(1) [latex]2+2(2)= 8[/latex];

(2) [latex]2+4x[/latex]

(3) [latex]2+2x^{2}=2(1+x^{2})[/latex]

I would interpret it as the least one because standard form would have it that way.

This always seems to be a tough one for many -1^4 = 1

KeepItSimpleStupid said:

Depends on what you mean? Multiplication is always done first. The x can be interpreted as multiply or it can be interpreted as x.

Click to expand...

Yeah, sorry--that was just how I wrote it. It is actually * (multiplication).
(The answer is 6, by the way ) lol

OK, this thread has been pointless since the first post.

It's now closed!

Moderator.