• cecilkorik@lemmy.ca
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      3 days ago

      Parenthesis, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction.

      should actually be

      Parenthesis, exponents, (multiplication and division), (addition and subtraction).

      Addition and subtraction are given the same priority, and are done in the same step, from left to right.

      It’s not a great system of notation, it could be made far clearer (and parenthesis allow you to make it as clear as you like), but it’s essentially the universal standard now and it’s what we’re stuck with.

      • iglou@programming.dev
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        3 days ago

        No, it should simply be “Parenthesis, exponents, multiplication, addition.”

        A division is defined as a multiplication, and a substraction is defined as an addition.

        I am so confused everytime I see people arguing about this, as this is basic real number arithmetics that every kid in my country learns at 12 yo, when moving on from the simplified version you learn in elementary school.

        • 13igTyme@lemmy.world
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          3 days ago

          You want PEMA with knowledge of what is defined, when people can’t even understand PEMDAS. You wish for too much.

          • Cethin@lemmy.zip
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            3 days ago

            I hate most math eduction because it’s all about memorizing formulas and rules, and then memorizing exceptions. The user above’s system is easier to learn, because there’s no exceptions or weirdness. You just learn the rule that division is multiplication and subtraction is addition. They’re just written in a different notation. It’s simpler, not more difficult. It just requires being educated on it. Yes, it’s harder if you weren’t obviously, as is everything you weren’t educated on.

            • Mistic@lemmy.world
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              2 days ago

              That’s because (strictly speaking) they aren’t teaching math. They’re teaching “tricks” to solve equations easier, which can lead to more confusion.

              Like the PEMDAS thing that’s being discussed here. There’s no such thing as “order of operations” in math, but it’s easier to teach by assuming that there is.

              Edit: To the people downvoting: I want to hear your opinions. Do you think I’m wrong? If so, why?

          • iglou@programming.dev
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            3 days ago

            I’m just confused as to how that is not common knowledge. The country I speak of is France, and we’re not exactly known for our excellent maths education.

    • aliceblossom@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      Because its not really “1 plus 3”, its negative 1 plus 3 which is two. I know it seems a little weird but the minus sign is " tied" to the thing following it.

    • fluxion@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      Addition/subtraction work out the same regardless of how you order the operations. If you do subtraction last you start with the original:

      9-1+3

      and you are adding 3 to the result of (9-1). Since you are trying to perform it before the (9-1) operation is carried out, you can add 3 to the 9:

      12-1 = 11

      or you can add three to the -1 and get:

      9+2 = 11

      You only end up with 9-4 if you were subtracting 3 rather than adding three. It all becomes more obvious if you read the original as:

      9 + (-1) + 3

    • Geodad@lemm.ee
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      4 days ago

      It’s multiplication or division from left to right followed by addition or subtraction, also from left to right.

      That’s where a lot of people fuck up.