[Math4u] Math persons

Hi Brian,

just a few remarks re your post.

ad 1: You probably meant to say "colon".
ad 2: The rules are quite clear-cut. Atadricourses is definitely wrong. Please see my post addressed to Rick.
ad 3: Mathematica does allow for implied multiplication; 2(a+b) is correct input, as is 2*(a+b).
ad 4: With or without the multiplication sign, evaluation order for this problem is the same. The whole thing hinges on precedence and associativity.

To quote from a Purdue Univ. website (http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~cs240/misc/operators.html):
"Operator precedence determines which operator will be performed first in a group of operators with different precedences. For instance 5 + 3 * 2 is calculated as 5 + (3 * 2), giving 11, and not as (5 + 3) * 2, giving 16.

The operator associativity rules define the order in which adjacent operators with the same precedence level are evaluated. For instance the expression 8 - 3 - 2 is calculated as (8 - 3) - 2, giving 3, and and not as 8 - (3 - 2), giving 7. In this case we say that subtraction is left associative meaning that the left most subtraction must be done first."

Best regards,

Michael


Brian Edward Jensen wrote:

Something strange here.  I edited Atadricourses message and my  version appears on the multiple message screen but the original  message was posted.  I hit "reply" and the edited version comes up.  Anyway, 1) No more messages that use semicolon for division will be approved  by Brian.  I hope Pat doesn't either. 2) Atadricourses may be correct but is to produce this rule that he  has been sadistically vexing us with. No use arguing.  If someone  produces the rule, then Atadricourses is correct.  If no one produces  the rule, then Atadricourses is wrong. 3)  This is becoming less relevant because it is not possible to  enter formulas into the computer with implied multiplication.  (leaving out the multiplication sign) 4)  It occurred to me that all this argument relates to the missing  multiplication sign.  Regards, Brian

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