Basic math.. Who knows it?

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k0nfyo0zed
k0nfyo0zed Posts: 313 Member
in Chit-Chat
basicmath.jpg

Please restore my faith in humanity...

I know the thing says "comment with your answer only" but I would like that to say "show your work!"

Remember elementary and middle school?

(i apologize if i have brought back repressed memories of creepy math teachers)

(big hint: the answer is not 0, 1 or 3... or 9 or 12!) here's why:


AFTER 6 PAGES I'M EDITING TO ADD THIS IN... SPOILERS? :)

PEMDAS is the order of operations. parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition and subtraction.

so, you do the multiplication first 5x0=0

that makes the problem 9-5+3.

when you get to addition and subtraction you work the problem left to right, 9-5 = 4. then 4+3 = 7.

IF you chose to do addition first, you need to be sure to take the symbol in front of the number with it, thus making the problem 9+ (-5) + 3 which, is still 7.

it's not 0 because the whole equation isn't multiplied by 0, only 5. for it to be zero it would have to read (9-5+5-3) x 0

it's not 1, because when you do the addition first, it's not 5+3, it's -5+3 which is -2, and 9 + (-2) is 7.

it's not 3, because you don't do the problem left to right, you have to do the multiplication first. for the answer to be three it would have to read (9-5+5) x 0 + 3

it's not 9 because you can't cancel out the -5+5 without doing the multiplication first.

and answers of 7 make me happy. :)

(clear?)
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Replies

  • _snw_
    _snw_ Posts: 1,305 Member
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    7.

    My Dear Aunt Sally!!! <--- that's showing my work.
  • kidakiwi04
    kidakiwi04 Posts: 238
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    According to my calculations the answer is 7...... but I hate Hate HATE math. :grumble: :grumble: :grumble:

    Runs and hides in my english books LOL
  • IronmanPanda
    IronmanPanda Posts: 2,083 Member
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    donut.
  • k0nfyo0zed
    k0nfyo0zed Posts: 313 Member
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    the answers i've seen for this problem are: 0, 1, 3, 7, 9 and 12.

    i cringe.
  • Trail_Addict
    Trail_Addict Posts: 1,350 Member
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    7
  • lizard053
    lizard053 Posts: 2,344 Member
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    basicmath.jpg

    Please restore my faith in humanity...

    I know the thing says "comment with your answer only" but I would like that to say "show your work!"

    Remember elementary and middle school?

    (i apologize if i have brought back repressed memories of creepy math teachers)
    If I remember the order of operations correctly, multiplication first, then addition, then subtraction, so 1.
  • IronmanPanda
    IronmanPanda Posts: 2,083 Member
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    the answers i've seen for this problem are: 0, 1, 3, 7, 9 and 12.

    i cringe.

    Don't forget donut.
  • sllm1
    sllm1 Posts: 2,114 Member
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    7
  • k0nfyo0zed
    k0nfyo0zed Posts: 313 Member
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    if you are doing addition before subtraction at the 9-5+3 stage, you need to take into consideration that subtracting is just adding a negative. meaning the problem becomes 9 + (-5) + 3
  • AllTehBeers
    AllTehBeers Posts: 5,030 Member
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    any thing times 0 is 0.
  • RaeLB
    RaeLB Posts: 1,216 Member
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    9-5=4
    +5=9
    x0=0
    +3=3
  • lizard053
    lizard053 Posts: 2,344 Member
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    if you are doing addition before subtraction at the 9-5+3 stage, you need to take into consideration that subtracting is just adding a negative. meaning the problem becomes 9 + (-5) + 3

    Now my over-educated brain hurts.
  • k0nfyo0zed
    k0nfyo0zed Posts: 313 Member
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    i want to hug everyone answering 7...
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
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    3
  • Eaglesfanintn
    Eaglesfanintn Posts: 813 Member
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    7 - you have to know your order of operations...at least that's what I'm going with.
  • builtforlife
    builtforlife Posts: 259
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    Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally. In order: Parenthesis, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction. I only see Subtraction, Multiplication, and Addition. First do the multiplying, then the adding, then the subtracting.
  • paletendril
    paletendril Posts: 24
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    7
  • BIGJIMMYU
    BIGJIMMYU Posts: 1,221 Member
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    I also get 7.
  • msarazine
    msarazine Posts: 65
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    7
  • treetop57
    treetop57 Posts: 1,578 Member
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    7

    But "maths" should be "math."

    Thanks for asking!

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