• Hex [he/him]@hexbear.net
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      12 hours ago

      I’m not trying to start an argument over this, but I respectfully disagree.

      6 / 2 * (1 + 2)

      6 / 2 * 3

      3 * 3

      9 edit: accidentally said 6 here

      Parentheses first, then division and multiplication granting priority to operations on the left.

      • The_sleepy_woke_dialectic [he/him]@hexbear.net
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        9 hours ago

        If it’s 2(1 + 2) that’s considered one “term” and heavily implies that you should FOIL first before anything else. It isn’t the same as 2 * (2 + 1). Of course you wouldn’t likely get an equation like that without knowing “what” you’re doing, which would answer any ambiguity.

        • Imnecomrade [none/use name]@hexbear.net
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          5 minutes ago

          2(1 + 2) does imply multiplication: 2 * (1 + 2). The reason it counts as one term, as I noted below, is because it is inside a two-dimensional fraction which has implicit parathenses in the numerator, denominator, and the fraction itself. The first equation is actually ((6) / (2(1 + 2))). When a fraction is written in two dimensions instead of a single string, the division between the numerator and the denominator is supposed to be done last.

      • Imnecomrade [none/use name]@hexbear.net
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        12 hours ago

        Assuming the first way is written correctly, the equation is actually 6 / (2 * (1 + 2)). The (1 + 2) is still inside the denominator. So it is solved as follows:

        6 / (2 * (1 + 2))

        6 / (2 * 3)

        6 / 6

        1

        The second equation incorrectly takes out the (1 + 2) and places it as the numerator on the side. In order to take that piece out correctly, it would have to be: (6 / 2) * (1 / (1 + 2))

        And to solve it, it would look like as follows:

        (6 / 2) * (1 / (1 + 2))

        3 * (1 / (1 + 2))

        3 * (1 / 3)

        3 / 3

        1

        Also, 3 * 3 = 9 in regards to second incorrect equation (incorrect meaning the second incorrectly refactored equation from the pic that you answered correctly up until the last operation).

        I think The_sleepy_woke_dialectic forgot to put parentheses around the denominator, but I believe it was meant to be interpreted as the entire denominator as shown in the pic.