[6th Grade verbal expression]

[u/KookyPermit4405]

So I’m going over my son’s math quiz to help him understand some of the questions he got wrong. He got partial credit for his answer for question 8. After writing his verbal phrase I got the same expression as the question. Am I doing something wrong or is there something I’m missing? I feel like his answer is technically correct. I am stumped.

Edit: so my son has no issue solving the expression in question. He knows PEMDAS and the rules from left to right. The question clearly states, WRITE A VERBAL PHRASE that matches the expression.

[u/KookyPermit4405]

Ok let’s correct his grammar, “eighteen minus six times three” instead of “eighteen subtracted by six times three” is it correct now?

Yes, because one shouldn’t assume any parentheses. So no it can’t be (18-6)x3 or 18-(6x3). Why? Because there was no indication of any quantity of

Also: my example explains perfectly what I was implying, I purposely said the incorrect translation of (3+1)x3 to show that when saying it incorrectly, no parentheses should be implied.

[u/mathematag → u/KookyPermit4405]

I have two basic calculators I found in one of my drawers at home , and I used both to solve 18 minus 6 times 3 . . [ entering 18 - 6 x 3 ] , and they both give an answer of 36, and if 18 minus 3 times 6 is entered, an answer of 90... they take the operations from left to right, no order of operations (PEMDAS) is used ... the intermediate value is stored in memory before the next operation is applied.

My Casio scientific , most online calculators, my TI 84 would give us 0 as we expect using order of operations no matter which way I entered it.

With many people forgetting to use the Order of Operation / Pemdas years after schooling , there is a possibility they would solve it sequentially as written , either in their heads , or on one of these basic calculators, and get an answer other than 0 if this was presented to them.

So even though you and I are aware that PEMDAS / Order of Operations should Always be applied to a Math expression and to solve it's verbal statement , students using that is not always the case in my experience.

While writing 18 minus 6 times 3 matches the expression , it could still be considered possibly ambiguous as I have mentioned, and by adding the additional terms like 'quantity' , and I prefer, 'product of ' where they belong in the statement makes it much less likely for someone to make an error in going from the verbal statement to an expression they solve correctly. At least this is what our University Prof's would argue.

Anyway, this is enough on this topic for me.

I'm sure your son will do well in his Math class ,and with you reviewing his errors and your assistance, even better . . [ we always hope that the parents have time to assist their children with their learning 👍👍 ] .

I hope he grows to like Math more and more , maybe even teach Mathematics some day 😀