Math question

[LuvOrlando]

I looked and came up with 1, I think it is do the multiplication first, then divide. Could be wrong but this is what I remember without looking.

 

[sam_gordon]

I looked and came up with 1, I think it is do the multiplication first, then divide. Could be wrong but this is what I remember without looking.

I suggest reading the thread.

 

[wabbott]

Interesting. I entered the equation into an excel spreadsheet exactly as shown thus: =3*2/3*2. Excel says 4.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I looked and came up with 1, I think it is do the multiplication first, then divide. Could be wrong but this is what I remember without looking.

I was wrong, looked it up and it looks like left to right when equal hierarchy.

Alas, a day I needed Algebra and it was not there

 

[Kitty 34]

I just texted my sons. They're all smarter than Mom in Math. My original answer was 4 but I second guessed myself.


OK two just chimed in 4 and the youngest said 1.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Just like a sentence needs punctuation, math equations need parenthesis. I kinda hate these internet puzzles that are really just examples of how not to do math.
Twenty five dollar bills - is that $100 or $25?
Twenty, five dollar bills = $100
Twenty five, dollar bills = $25
TO OP - 4 is the right answer for how it is written, but is that what was intended? That's where Engineering judgement comes in, and where a set of parenthesis would have gone a long way.

 

[NFLDERS]

Just like a sentence needs punctuation, math equations need parenthesis. I kinda hate these internet puzzles that are really just examples of how not to do math.
Twenty five dollar bills - is that $100 or $25?
Twenty, five dollar bills = $100
Twenty five, dollar bills = $25
TO OP - 4 is the right answer for how it is written, but is that what was intended? That's where Engineering judgement comes in, and where a set of parenthesis would have gone a long way.

It was an Internet pop up site riddle.

 

[Lumpy1106]

It was an Internet pop up site riddle.

You could say the same thing about the sentence I used as an example.

 

[Disneychick13]

4

 

[Sheryl2059]

Twenty five dollar bills - is that $100 or $25

For further analysis look up School House Rock on Disney+. One the episodes talked about 'or' and 'OR'.

Those of us old enough to remember watching them on Saturdays... they were quite helpful.

I'm just a bill........

 

[_19disnA]

Math equations do not need parentheses unless what was intended was something other than following the normal left to right hierarchy. When there are parentheses, you evaluate those first. Answer is still 4.

 

[SirDuff]

For those saying it needs parentheses - assuming that the desired answer to the equation is 4 (i.e. you do just go left to right), where, exactly, are you suggesting that the brackets should go?

 

[sam_gordon]

For those saying it needs parentheses - assuming that the desired answer to the equation is 4 (i.e. you do just go left to right), where, exactly, are you suggesting that the brackets should go?

2x(3/3)x2
(2x3/3)x2
2x(3/3x2)

 

[SirDuff]

2x(3/3)x2
(2x3/3)x2
2x(3/3x2)

I don't find any of those to be easier/clearer than the original. It's just randomly placed. I suppose, maybe, it could help those who don't realise that multiplication and division are equal, the first could help (but that's only for those that assume that multiplication comes before division).

 

[CAPSLOCK]

2x(3/3)x2
(2x3/3)x2
2x(3/3x2)

The third one will leave you with 1 again if you are inclined to do the multiplication before division.
Agree #1 removes any confusion, but the parentheses aren't necessary to get to the correct answer.

 

[Sheryl2059]

Then again, math is not based on what people are inclined to do. Assuming they want the correct answer. There is one universal standard order of operations. Or there is not. Utilizing some kind of arbitrary order of operations will give you arbitrary answers.

Using the idea above, if you are inclined to do the multiplication before division, solve this equation: 2 * ( 3 / 3 * 0)

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Then again, math is not based on what people are inclined to do. Assuming they want the correct answer. There is one universal standard order of operations.

Agree. I meant more if someone didn't understand the order of operations, putting the parentheses in the 3rd location won't help them anyways. If you're going to put them in, at least put them in such that you fix it for the "multiplication first" crowd.

 

[sam_gordon]

I don't find any of those to be easier/clearer than the original. It's just randomly placed. I suppose, maybe, it could help those who don't realise that multiplication and division are equal, the first could help (but that's only for those that assume that multiplication comes before division).

I agree the second two don't help eliminate confusion, but 2x(3/3)x2 DOES and answers the question you asked.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I also think 4, since multiplication and division have the same level of precedence, and there are no parentheses, I would just proceed from left to right, step by step.

Exactly! I used to be a math teacher. You don't do all multiplication before all division. So, the answer's 4.