Re: RE : Re: [Math4u] Math persons

The rule is still left-to-right. Try it with a calculator or
Mathematica.

-- Rick

--- "Brian E. Jensen" <brianejensen@prodigy.net> wrote:

> I just had a thought.
> 16/2*a =8a by math convention.
> But what happens if we leave out the multiplication sign
> 16/2a
> Now maybe it's wrong, but there is a tendency in my mind to think of
> 2a as a
> term or entity and come up with 16/2a=8/a
> So maybe leaving out the multiplication sign was done on purpose to
> trick
> our subconscious. I'm not so sure what the correct answer is when a
> sign is
> omitted.
>
> Does 16/2*a equal 16/2a ?
> Does anyone know the rule or how to handle when the multiplication
> sign is
> left out?
>
> Regards,
> Brian
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mario Marotti" <mmar62@hotmail.com>
> To: <math4u@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 2:38 PM
> Subject: RE: RE : Re: [Math4u] Math persons
>
>
>
>
> 16 / 2 [8 – 3 (4 – 2)] + 1
> = 16 / 2 [8 – 3 (2)] +1
> = 16 / 2 [8 – 6] +1
> = 16 / 2 [ ] + 1
> = 16 / 4 +1
> = 4 + 1
> = 5
>
> Hello!
> This is my first message in the group.
> I think the ambiguity occurs when a fraction is written like 16/2
> instead of
> using the horizontal ___ quotient line.
>
> Writing
>
> 16
> __
>
> 2
>
> instead of (16/2), you have no problem at all.
>
> Best regards
> Mario
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