this post was submitted on 27 Nov 2025
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Now that's a good troll math thing because it gets really deep into the weeds of mathematical notation. There isn't one true order of operations that is objectively correct, and on top of that, that's hardly the way most people would write that. As in, if you wrote that by hand, you wouldn't use the
/symbol. You'd either use ÷ or a proper fraction.It's a good candidate for nerd sniping.
Personally, I'd call that 36 as written given the context you're saying it in, instead of calling it 1. But I'd say it's ambiguous and you should notate in a way to avoid ambiguities. Especially if you're in the camp of multiplication like
a(b)being different fromaband/ora × b.Yes there is, as found in Maths textbooks the world over
Maths textbooks write it that way
Yes you would.
Same same
Here's one I prepared earlier to save you the trouble
And you'd be wrong
The context is Maths, you have to obey the rules of Maths. a(b+c)=(ab+ac), 5(8-5)=(5x8-5x5).
And you'd be wrong about that too
It already is notated in a way that avoids all ambiguities!
That's not Multiplication, it's Distribution, a(b+c)=(ab+ac), a(b)=(axb).
Nope, that's exactly the same, ab=(axb) by definition
(axb) is most certainly different to axb. 1/ab=1/(axb), 1/axb=b/a
Please read this section of Wikipedia which talks about these topics better than I could. It shows that there is ambiguity in the order of operations and that for especially niche cases there is not a universally accepted order of operations when dealing with mixed division and multiplication. It addresses everything you've mentioned.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_operations#Mixed_division_and_multiplication
Please read Maths textbooks which explain it better than Joe Blow Your next Door neighbour on Wikipedia. there's plenty in here
and is wrong about that, as proven by Maths textbooks
That's because Multiplication and Division can be done in any order
wrongly, as per Maths textbooks
Nope. Terms/Products is what they are called. "implied multiplication" is a "rule" made up by people who have forgotten the actual rules.
Always is, because brackets first. ab=(axb) by definition
As per the definition that ab=(axb), 1/2n=1/(2xn).
Did you look at the references, and note that there are no Maths textbooks listed?
Which isn't a Maths textbook
Also not Maths textbooks
Actually that is a Computer Science textbook, written for programmers. Knuth is a very famous programmer
None of them are ambiguous.
It does as per the rules of Maths, but more precisely it actually means 1 / (2πa + 2πb)
No, it can't mean that unless it was written (1 / 2π)(a + b), which it wasn't
Nope, never
a/b/c is already unambiguous - left to right. 🙄
With the exception of Texas Instruments, all the other calculator manufacturers have gone back to doing it correctly, and Sharp have always done it correctly.
6÷(2x1+2x2) actually, as per The Distributive Law, a(b+c)=(ab+ac)
Yep, Texas Instruments is the only one still doing it wrong
doesn't exist, as per Maths textbooks
No there isn't - you MUST obey The Distributive Law, a(b+c)=(ab+ac)
And he was wrong about that. 🙄
Which notably can be found in Maths textbooks
If you believe the article is incorrect, submit your corrections to Wikipedia instead of telling me.
You know they've rejected corrections by actual Maths Professors right? Just look for Rick Norwood in the talk section. Everyone who knows Maths knows Wikipedia is wrong, and looks in the right place to begin with - Maths textbooks
Again, if you have a problem with Wikipedia, take it up with Wikipedia.
You've made the mistake of thinking they care. Again, look for Rick Norwood in the Talk sections, an actual Maths professor (bless him for continually trying to get them to correct the mistakes though)
Take it up with them if you have a problem with them.
I see you're not even reading what I said. No wonder you don't know how to do Maths...
I did read everything you said and I do know how to do math. I hope you are able to enact the change you want to see in Wikipedia and the article. Good luck.
Clearly you didn't, given you keep telling me to take it up with Harvard/Wiki
See?? There you go again ignoring what I told you about Wikipedia 🙄
I haven't ignored anything you said. I'm telling you that if you have a problem with those that you should contact them to fix them.
You've ignored everything I've said about Wikipedia.
and you have again ignored what I told you about them 🙄
It's funny that you define "ignore" as "not doing what you tell someone to" because by that definition you've been ignoring me too. Go edit the article if you feel this strongly.
Nope, I didn't.
I'm ignoring the person failing to cite Maths textbooks, yes, that's correct.
Go read what I said about what happens when ACTUAL MATHS PROFESSORS have tried to do EXACTLY THAT 🙄
Go tell Wikipedia about that, not me. It's a community you can join. You very clearly feel very strongly about it. Talking to me about it isn't going to change anything.
I'm telling you, the person pretending that it's mathematically valid information
Yep, and be defeated, just like the Maths Professor Rick Norwood was, repeatedly.
Maths textbooks, yes, which you keep ignoring
And you talking about it isn't going to change that you are wrong
Open a textbook: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Guide_to_requests_for_adminship
Tell them, not me.
I've been telling you to do that the whole time and you still refuse 😂
Tell them you refuse to open a Maths textbook? 😂
Yes. Go tell Wikipedia that I won't open a textbook.