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## 48/2(9+3) = ?

henry_yew
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#11 19-04-2011 Re: 48/2(9+3) = ?

Quote:
 Originally Posted by CissNei 1/2X where X = 2?
Quote:
 Originally Posted by youngyew Huh what are you referring to CissNei?
I think CissNei is trying to ask why we cannot view the division as a fraction, e.g. ⅜, ⅞, ? etc.

Well, actually the original poster didn't use the "/" symbol to mean "divide by". The original poster actually wanted to denote the conventional "divide by" symbol (the one dash with one dot above it, and one below). Had he written the operation in a fraction form like this:

48
-------
2(9+3)

(desperate way of writing fractions in ReCom)

then the answer would have been 2. In the usual way of writing the above fraction, it would be 48/[2(9+3)]. CissNei, your fraction as quoted above, would have been written as 1/(2x).

sin 2x, cos 2x and tan 2x are all understood as sin (2x), cos (2x) and tan (2x). However, sin 2x + 5 is not the same as sin (2x + 5)! The former would have been interpreted as sin (2x) + 5.

Confused? I'm not a mathematician either. Ask one. Haha...
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 the_thinker Super Junior Member     Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 30 #12 19-04-2011 Re: 48/2(9+3) = ? try typing 48%2(9+3) in your calculators... some give 2 some give 288 %= divide symbol... i think its just one of the many curiosities of math lesson is, add more brackets to be precise about what ur calculating...
surayahamdan
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#13 19-04-2011 Re: 48/2(9+3) = ?

Quote:
 Originally Posted by CissNei 1/2X where X = 2?
1/2X = 1/2*X strictly speaking or $1\div&space;2\times&space;x$

Don't confuse it with
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youngyew

Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 5,741
#14 19-04-2011 Re: 48/2(9+3) = ?

Quote:
 Originally Posted by surayahamdan 1/2X = 1/2*X strictly speaking or $1\div&space;2\times&space;x$ Don't confuse it with
Again, a casual reader tends to take 1/2x as one over two x, because it's precisely how we would read it as it was written.

However, a strict computer system would simply define any two items put next to each other as a product, and it usually doesn't add any brackets to a statement. Therefore, since there is nothing between 2 and x, and that there wasn't any bracket in the expression 1/2x, a computer system will just interpret it as one, divided by two, multiply by x. In other words, x/2.

Addition: But then again, it also depends on whether the computer system has additional "intelligent" features. Sometimes software designers try to teach computer the nuances of mathematical expression and the way people usually write it which is against the strict syntactic rules, so it tries to "guess" what you really mean by breaking the strict rules.

You can try it out at WolframAlpha which uses the Mathematica software which is one of the most popular mathematical softwares used by professional mathematicians. When you type 1/2x, it actually guesses that you mean 1 over 2x. However, if you type 1/2xy, it goes back to the strict computer rule, and gives you one divided by two, multiply by x, multiply by y.

Confusing. Which is why we should be as clear as possible when we input mathematical expression.
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Last edited by youngyew; 19-04-2011 at 08:56 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

 surayahamdan Member   Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 165 #15 19-04-2011 Re: 48/2(9+3) = ? Just a trivia, this math question was started on 4chan to troll people. There are some other variations but I'm just too lazy to find them. __________________ Universiti Kuala Lumpur Online Community - http://unikl.org
CissNei
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Join Date: Aug 2010
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#16 20-04-2011 Re: 48/2(9+3) = ?

Quote:
 Originally Posted by surayahamdan Just a trivia, this math question was started on 4chan to troll people. There are some other variations but I'm just too lazy to find them.
Won't be surprised. There's some troll potential in this one. That being said, I didn't get it off 4chan

Anyways as to the original question, I would've done gotten 288, and interpreted 1/2X as 1/2 * X.

Was curious about how people would interpret the "division" sign as opposed to the "/" sign.

 youngyew ReCom Addict Administrator     Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 5,741 #17 09-06-2011 Re: 48/2(9+3) = ? Best reply to the equation ever: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-e8fzqv3CE Do watch her other videos as well, she presents mathematics in such a fun way you would wish she was your maths teacher in high school! It's like saying, "I would like some juice or water with ice". WIN. __________________ [][][][flickr] Check out our ReCom wiki! Do contribute by writing or editing the existing articles so that everyone now and in the future can benefit from it! Last edited by youngyew; 09-06-2011 at 06:50 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
 The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to youngyew For This Useful Post:
 Smilehoe Member     Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 279 #18 09-06-2011 Re: 48/2(9+3) = ? ah, Vhart! She makes the most interesting maths videos. <3
Cactus
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 396
#19 12-06-2011 Re: 48/2(9+3) = ?

Quote:
 Originally Posted by youngyew Best reply to the equation ever: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-e8fzqv3CE Do watch her other videos as well, she presents mathematics in such a fun way you would wish she was your maths teacher in high school! It's like saying, "I would like some juice or water with ice". WIN.
I almost cried when she drew crocodiles as a sign for some operation.

And yes, I think the equation is dumb!

Laavania
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 17
#20 16-06-2011 Re: 48/2(9+3) = ?

Quote:
 Originally Posted by Cactus I almost cried when she drew crocodiles as a sign for some operation. And yes, I think the equation is dumb!
me too

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