• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Our public schools suck! Adults that cant do math...

Page 11 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
On a sidenote.

Here is another fun equation for you all:

The reaction rate of a large chemical process. (basically more or less)

r = k[(c1(1-X1))/(1+e1X1)]^a[(c2-(q/p)C1X1)/(1+e1X1)]^b
 
purbeast0 said:
yes, and he is wrong. i'm sure after explaining it multiple times he would clearly understand his mistake, whereas you aren't getting it after it has been told to you time after time.
Click to expand...

I understand the mistake. I was just explaining WHY people would interpret the problem that way.
 
SheHateMe said:
I understand the mistake. I was just explaining WHY people would interpret the problem that way.
Click to expand...

attachment.php
 
actuarial said:
Does

6÷2x = 6÷2(1+2)

If x = (1+2)
Click to expand...

i don't understand what point you are trying to make there though.

either way, if x = (1+2), which is 3, that equation resolves to 9.

them resolving it to

6
----
6

is just wrong. hopefully some of these people now know the correct math rules after this thread.

i also wouldn't say "nearly every person" interprets it that way, as the majority of the people in this thread know the correct answer is 9. there are like 2-3 people who insist it is 1, and they probably made up like 60% of the posts in this thread.
 
Last edited:
Upon closer look it is obvious that the answer is 5:

Brackets first, so the 2(1 get this treatment; 2*1 =2

Now 6%2=3

Finally 3+2 at the end = 5
 
purbeast0 said:
i don't understand what point you are trying to make there though.

either way, if x = (1+2), which is 3, that equation resolves to 9.

them resolving it to

6
----
6

is just wrong. hopefully some of these people now know the correct math rules after this thread.
Click to expand...

The issue is, when a variable unknown is involved. The equation cannot be flexible in how it is written because of PEMDAS, and thus it would be a fair argument saying the equation was poorly written.

However since there is no variable...
 
SheHateMe said:
There, someone else said it too. And he's an actuarial, so you can't call him stupid.
Click to expand...



The reason you are being called out unlike the rest is because you dug yourself quite a hole having being adamant that the ooo PEMDAS was meant literally where multiplication came before division. You stated as much way back. You did not misinterpret the equation, you flat out had it wrong and then backpedaled claiming you misinterpreted which you didn't.
 
diesbudt said:
The issue is, when a variable unknown is involved. The equation cannot be flexible in how it is written because of PEMDAS, and thus it would be a fair argument saying the equation was poorly written.

However since there is no variable...
Click to expand...

to be 100% honest i have never even heard of PEMDAS or these abbreviations until this thread. obviously i knew the orders of operation, just not that accronym stuff.

what the value of the variable is is 100% irrelevant to math rules. it doesn't change the order or operations.

math is a set of rules and the rules used in this instance are very well written out that in the end there is only 1 correct way to interpret it. people just hate to admit they interpreted it wrong for some reason.
 
purbeast0 said:
i don't understand what point you are trying to make there though.

either way, if x = (1+2), which is 3, that equation resolves to 9.

them resolving it to

6
----
6

is just wrong. hopefully some of these people now know the correct math rules after this thread.

i also wouldn't say "nearly every person" interprets it that way, as the majority of the people in this thread know the correct answer is 9. there are like 2-3 people who insist it is 1, and they probably made up like 60% of the posts in this thread.
Click to expand...

Of course, but you still made the same mistake seeing it the first time.

The majority of people in this thread said the answer was nine based on the first presentation of the problem.

When I said "nearly every person" what I was referring to is that I imagine most people would laugh at me for asserting:
6÷2x = 3x

outside of the context of this thread.
 
There is no denying that this can be written out clearer, just as a technical medical paper could be written in a simplified manner so that I could understand it. However, if common and widely understood math rules allow all people who follow them to arrive at the same answer the idea that this problem is written to deliberately confuse is absolutely incorrect.
 
The answer is 9.

The reason is if you intend the answer to be 1 from the problem, you must use the proper notation to arrive at that.

6/2(1+2) = 9

6/(2(1+2)) = 1

If you want to do it on a single line. By implication an operator can only work between the two orders it is placed. In this case 6 and 2 for the division symbol. If you want the division symbol to encompass a number other than 6 or 2 in that equation it must be written out that way.

Just as if I wrote out 6/2*2/3*5 = 10 because multiplication and division are of equal precedence and left to right order precedence takes over. The answer would not be 0.1 because you are trying to do multiplication before division in that equation.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top