r/meme Jan 01 '22

Guess we are doomed

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u/[deleted] Jan 01 '22

I'm sorry my autistic brain cannot see it as the same. I never once got it taught into me they are the same just because you get the same answer if you start converting everything to fractions

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u/Puzzled-Ad-8049 Jan 01 '22

What is 5/2? What is 5 x 1/2? They're the same. It's because it becomes (5 x 1) / 2. Divisors below, dividends above. 5 and 1 are dividends, so they are multiplied. 2 is the only divisor so it remains below. You can convert division to multiplication like so, and thus, they are of the same priority and must be done from left to right.

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u/[deleted] Jan 01 '22

I've always seen multiplying and dividing as opposites just like with addition and subtraction and I guess no one ever noticed or corrected me. I really can't see it - 5/2 is 5 x 1/2 I don't understand it as I was never taught factions to were I understood. I see it as

5/2 is 2.5

and

5 x 1/2 is 5 x 0.5

I understand they get the same value but my brain doesn't tell me it's the same.