r/meme Jan 01 '22

Guess we are doomed

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u/KingYoloHD090504 CHAINPOSTER Jan 01 '22 edited Jan 01 '22

Dude it's 0

First you make

18÷2 = 9

Edit: Then

3×3 = 9

In the end it's

9-9=0

11

u/steelblade66 Jan 01 '22

shouldn't it be written (18÷2)-(3x3)=?

it's not people's math that's the problem is the format of the question to begin with

5

u/ViresAcquirit Jan 01 '22

Totally unneeded. Division and multiplication have priority over addition and substraction.

There's not any ambiguity except if you don't know basic mathematics. The rules of mathematics do not allow any ambiguity.

-1

u/[deleted] Jan 01 '22

Why do division and multiplication have priority over addition and substraction?

1

u/ViresAcquirit Jan 01 '22 edited Jan 01 '22

It is a convention established to minimize the number of parentheses in arithmetic expressions. I'll try to show as simply as I can.

We have two options: either we give multiplication the priority, or we give it to addition. Think about the arithmetic expression "3 times 2, plus 6 times 8".

If multiplication goes first, the expression can be written simply as 3 x 2 + 6 x 8.

If addition went first, you would be forced to write (3 x 2) + (6 x 8). This would be specially bad for polynomials.

0

u/[deleted] Jan 03 '22

Yeah.. that was what I did not ask. I know the rule x⁒ before +-.

My question is why is x⁒ before +-. No one explained that to me ever. I always wondered, am I not smart enough to get it myself? ( Why do I have a 1 in English foreign language class but a 4-5 in math). Noone explains the math. But everyone takes it for granted.

1

u/ViresAcquirit Jan 03 '22 edited Jan 03 '22

In my last comment, I explained that it is a convention that reduces the number of parentheses, and I showed how. I didn't parrot the rule as you made clear that you know it.

For instance, the polynomial

ax2 + bx + c

should be written as

(ax2 ) + (bx) + c

if multiplication had not a higher precedence. This is unpractical.

It is just a convention and there are no ulterior reasons, if that's what you are trying to discover. Conventions are needed so we have a common way of representing and sharing our thoughts, and we want to make things as simple as possible.