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What result do you get?

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Admin
Forum Admin

USA
633 Posts

Posted - 06/19/2012 : 21:46:27

What result do you get when you simplify this expression? I get 13, but my son insists it is 4.

16-6x2

2(5-3)

Thanks,
Gisele

the_hill1962
Advanced Member

USA
1438 Posts

Posted - 06/20/2012 : 18:47:04

Duplicate post:
http://www.mathgoodies.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=34383

royhaas
Moderator

USA
3039 Posts

Posted - 06/21/2012 : 09:57:48

quote:
Originally posted by the_hill1962

Duplicate post:
http://www.mathgoodies.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=34383

Yes, it's a duplicate, but it touches on an important topic - operator precedence (aka PEMDAS) that many students have trouble with.

the_hill1962
Advanced Member

USA
1438 Posts

Posted - 06/26/2012 : 15:33:58

This is one of the reasons why I replied with "duplicate post".
It is important that everyone (students and teachers) see all the dialog.
Having three different places would make a possibility of someone not seeing Ultraglide's excellent post.

royhaas
Moderator

USA
3039 Posts

Posted - 06/27/2012 : 11:33:42

See my response today to the original post.

the_hill1962
Advanced Member

USA
1438 Posts

Posted - 06/27/2012 : 21:31:48

Ahhhh, aren't calculators nice?
It really is too easy mess up and get the "13" result by hand!

quote:
Originally posted by royhaas

See my response today to the original post.

Subhotosh Khan
Advanced Member

USA
9114 Posts

Posted - 06/29/2012 : 20:47:44

quote:
Originally posted by Admin

What result do you get when you simplify this expression? I get 13, but my son insists it is 4.

16-6x22(5-3)

=16-6*22*(2)

=16-122*2

= 16 - 6 * 2

= 4

Although multiplication and division has the same rank - it needs to be carried out left-to-right.
Thanks,
Gisele