<pedant mode>This isn't an equation, it's an expression. That's because it hasn't got an equals sign or any unknowns represented by letters. It's evaluated, not solved.</pedant mode>
Sorry, it just annoys me to see expressions wrongly called equations.
It's a slightly unfair question as its entirely theoretical.
If expressed as an actual situation,e.g. How much is your shopping if you buy a pair of jeans at £40, get 40 free pairs of socks and buy a wristband for a pound, most people would have no problem with it, without needing to worry about brackets and acronym aide memoires.
For some reason though, there's a fad for being anal about mathematics notation. It's just the equivalent of posting threads saying "where, according to the strict grammar rules taught in Victorian grammar schools, do the commas go in this nonsensical sentence?"
For anyone who thinks the answer is anything other than 41, Google BODMAS and you'll learn that in the absence of brackets to the contrary, multiplication should be performed before addition.
BODMAS is only a convention, it's not something like Pythagoras which can be proved. However, it's a convention which is followed throughout the whole of maths, science and technology, so it can't be ignored.
Are you saying that (over)use of brackets cannot replace BODMAS in motion equations? It's just a shorthand. And like Shorthand, it's merely a convenience for those that know and use it. It's not required, and, when applied to real life situations, those that aren't familiar with those conventions can write down (and work out) the answers without using it.
Are you saying that (over)use of brackets cannot replace BODMAS in motion equations?
I'm not quite sure what you mean.
Obviously, we canna change the laws of physics (as Scotty used to say) so each of the equations of motion can only be evaluated in one way if the correct results are to be obtained.
It is possible to add redundant brackets to expressions, which don't change the order of evaluation, just make it more obvious. This is often done in television programs such as Countdown, where some of the audience might not be aware of the BODMAS convention. Redundant brackets aren't normally used in maths, science or engineering textbooks or exam papers, because pupils and students should know about BODMAS.
it's merely a convenience for those that know and use it.
True, but 100% of pupils and students of maths, science and technology should know it.
It's not required
True, but in that case umpteen brackets would be required. That would be messy even an an elementary level, and at A level and beyond would be horrendous.
and, when applied to real life situations, those that aren't familiar with those conventions can write down (and work out) the answers without using it.
Only if the redundant brackets are present. Otherwise, the ignorant will get incorrect answers.
There is no shame in ignorance. Children who haven't yet been taught it, and adults who have never been taught it or forgotten it, will work left to right and get the wrong answers but they cannot be blamed for that.
Several decades ago BODMAS was taught in the early years of secondary school. Perhaps someone might be able to tell us if that is still the case?
Key that equation/formula/expression into Excel and it gives the answer 41. So assuming Excel obeys the significant operators laws then 41 is the answer.
That's not exactly relevant; my point was that those answering '1' don't understand basic arithmetic.
You're completely wrong.
The solution is not in any way, shape or form ambiguous, and there is an accepted convention...otherwise known as the laws of arithmetic.
I'm happy to be proven wrong, as I've stated, maths is absolutely not my strong point, so I'm not likely to defend my stance on this to the death
I'm fairly certain though, that as I've been taught, the answer would have come to 1. I was never taught BODMAS (I'm 37 if that makes any difference to when it was taught in schools?)
I'm happy to be proven wrong, as I've stated, maths is absolutely not my strong point, so I'm not likely to defend my stance on this to the death
I'm fairly certain though, that as I've been taught, the answer would have come to 1. I was never taught BODMAS (I'm 37 if that makes any difference to when it was taught in schools?)
Brackets
Of
Division
Multiplication
Addition
Subtraction
That means you evaluate multiplication before addition. So 40*0 is evaluated to 0, leaving 40+0+1 = 41.
It proves to me nothing more than the solution is ambiguous at best and that there is no generally accepted convention.
I don't mean to be rude, but this sort of thing really amazes me. At least the other one was vaguely ambiguous, but there genuinely is no possible debate about this. It is not ambiguous, there are just people who know how to do maths and people who don't.
If they do 'ask the audience' in millionaire, there are a number of people vote for each answer. That isn't because the answer to 'who was queen of England in 1870' is ambiguous with no generally accepted convention - it's because some people don't know the answer, and the same applies here....
ETA: I've just tried typing that as a string into my very basic calculator and even that gets the right answer (which, I'll admit, surprised me a little)
I'm fairly certain though, that as I've been taught, the answer would have come to 1. I was never taught BODMAS (I'm 37 if that makes any difference to when it was taught in schools?)
I'm 36 and I have older siblings, and we were all taught this. You can't ignore conventions and expect to get the right answer, it's akin to deciding that you want to ignore brackets or not recognise "+" as meaning "plus".
Why do people think they can do this sort of thing with maths and their answer can still be considered correct?
Comments
Sorry, it just annoys me to see expressions wrongly called equations.
And the previous one is still correctly 288.
If expressed as an actual situation,e.g. How much is your shopping if you buy a pair of jeans at £40, get 40 free pairs of socks and buy a wristband for a pound, most people would have no problem with it, without needing to worry about brackets and acronym aide memoires.
For some reason though, there's a fad for being anal about mathematics notation. It's just the equivalent of posting threads saying "where, according to the strict grammar rules taught in Victorian grammar schools, do the commas go in this nonsensical sentence?"
40+40=80
80x0=0
0+1=1
That's how I got it, but I think every solution on the thread is viable.
FWIW - the answers 1 and 41 were both about equal on facebook last time I looked with hundreds, if not thousands of answers.
BODMAS is only a convention, it's not something like Pythagoras which can be proved. However, it's a convention which is followed throughout the whole of maths, science and technology, so it can't be ignored.
This question isn't theoretical. As a simple example of where knowledge of BODMAS is vital, take the equations of motion in physics http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equations_of_motion
Are you saying that (over)use of brackets cannot replace BODMAS in motion equations? It's just a shorthand. And like Shorthand, it's merely a convenience for those that know and use it. It's not required, and, when applied to real life situations, those that aren't familiar with those conventions can write down (and work out) the answers without using it.
Obviously, we canna change the laws of physics (as Scotty used to say) so each of the equations of motion can only be evaluated in one way if the correct results are to be obtained.
It is possible to add redundant brackets to expressions, which don't change the order of evaluation, just make it more obvious. This is often done in television programs such as Countdown, where some of the audience might not be aware of the BODMAS convention. Redundant brackets aren't normally used in maths, science or engineering textbooks or exam papers, because pupils and students should know about BODMAS.
There is no shame in ignorance. Children who haven't yet been taught it, and adults who have never been taught it or forgotten it, will work left to right and get the wrong answers but they cannot be blamed for that.
Several decades ago BODMAS was taught in the early years of secondary school. Perhaps someone might be able to tell us if that is still the case?
There was a choice of 4 answers.
It proves to me nothing more than the solution is ambiguous at best and that there is no generally accepted convention.
The solution is not in any way, shape or form ambiguous, and there is an accepted convention...otherwise known as the laws of arithmetic.
I'm happy to be proven wrong, as I've stated, maths is absolutely not my strong point, so I'm not likely to defend my stance on this to the death
I'm fairly certain though, that as I've been taught, the answer would have come to 1. I was never taught BODMAS (I'm 37 if that makes any difference to when it was taught in schools?)
Of
Division
Multiplication
Addition
Subtraction
That means you evaluate multiplication before addition. So 40*0 is evaluated to 0, leaving 40+0+1 = 41.
I don't mean to be rude, but this sort of thing really amazes me. At least the other one was vaguely ambiguous, but there genuinely is no possible debate about this. It is not ambiguous, there are just people who know how to do maths and people who don't.
If they do 'ask the audience' in millionaire, there are a number of people vote for each answer. That isn't because the answer to 'who was queen of England in 1870' is ambiguous with no generally accepted convention - it's because some people don't know the answer, and the same applies here....
ETA: I've just tried typing that as a string into my very basic calculator and even that gets the right answer (which, I'll admit, surprised me a little)
Well, we could start arguing over which numeral system is in use, but I think that could be missing the point slightly.
I'm 36 and I have older siblings, and we were all taught this. You can't ignore conventions and expect to get the right answer, it's akin to deciding that you want to ignore brackets or not recognise "+" as meaning "plus".
Why do people think they can do this sort of thing with maths and their answer can still be considered correct?