Don't be silly, 2 minuses make a plus! Anyway, by the time you've finished a maths degree you don't really use numbers, it becomes more of a study of the greek alphabet! What is this 10 you speak of?!?!What do you do if it's 100 -(minus) -(negative)10? 100 plus negative negative 10?
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6 - 1 x 0 + 2 / 2 =
- Thread starter Bozza
- Start date
Given that there's no appointed examiner (unless Bozza counts), you're basically asking the classmates, who are currently busy throwing chalk at each other. So you've got to choose which class mate you'd like to copy, hoping that they're not stupid.So what is the correct answerI know we got 3 points tonight and we were f@[MENTION=19866]king B[/MENTION]rilliant! but after many pints and a double J.D this all makes my head spin
SeagullSongs
And it's all gone quiet..
I've no problem with that, but that's what you'd need to explain to people. You'd need to say, hey guys, instead of having to worry about the order, just treat all subtractions as negative numbers and stick with additions. Sadly you'd lose half of NSC with that (I think most still think the answer is 1).
But, seeing as we're both pedants... you've realised you were wrong haven't you
If not, could you give me an example of an equation where a subtraction appears to the left of an addition, but you do the addition first and all ends well (and we can use any numbers we want in the equation)?
Why use numbers?
a - (b + c) is not equal to (a - b) + c!* The difference between the two answers is 2c. In this case c = 1.
a - (b + c) = 5
(a - b) + c = 7
Might lose 95% of NSC with that...
*Exclamation mark, not factorial
No need for numbers, but one equation please, without brackets (as everyone seems to be in agreement that brackets come first).Why use numbers?
SeagullSongs
And it's all gone quiet..
Well, you're asking for an equation to show something that is impossible. The algebraic proof in my previous post shows that they are simply not equal, regardless of the numbers.
Starting with the equation
a - b + c
If you do the addition first, it's the same as putting it in brackets, yes? Which gives you:
a - (b + c)
which equals:
a - b - c
If you do the subtraction first, it's the same as putting that in brackets, giving you:
(a - b) + c
which equals:
a - b + c
a - b - c ≠ a - b + c
Yes, but I wasn't asking you (originally), I was asking Shifty, as he said it doesn't matter what order you do the subtraction or addition in an equation.
I've no problem with that, but that's what you'd need to explain to people. You'd need to say, hey guys, instead of having to worry about the order, just treat all subtractions as negative numbers and stick with additions. Sadly you'd lose half of NSC with that (I think most still think the answer is 1).
But, seeing as we're both pedants... you've realised you were wrong haven't you
If not, could you give me an example of an equation where a subtraction appears to the left of an addition, but you do the addition first and all ends well (and we can use any numbers we want in the equation)?
Thing is i think i don't use - as an operator in the sense you are using it, and so only use addition for this kind of scenario. But i don't think of it as 2 + -1 i just think of it as 2 -1, if you follow me. I don't know what i'm saying anymore! Basically the way i think of subtraction/addition (as addition of +/- numbers) means they can be done in any order, and in BODMAS addition and subtraction are equivalent when you think of it like this, i think this is what i was taught at school (was a while ago, can't remember!). I think that was the point i was making? so in that sense i am right? But i can also see how the way you are looking at it, using - as purely an operator, then it does matter the order in which you do it, so in that sense you are right. It's just two different ways of interpreting it, provided it comes out with the right answer in a logical manner i've no problem with that (you got 7 for the answer i hope?). So lets agree that we were both right.
...ps. my way is bettter!
Yes, no problem with that.
Understood.
Nope, sorry. With Bodmas (can't be bothered with all capitals) you treat addition and subtraction equally, but you must work from left to right. This doesn't apply to you, because you simply don't use subtraction, but for those that do they need to get things in the right order.
You don't use it as an operator because you've been staring at letters too long (ie, doing a masters in maths), but most people will see the minus sign in 100 - 10 + 10 as an operator.
Indeed they are just different ways, and yes, obviously 7.
I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that. *
We passed agreeing we're both right way back my friend, way way back:
Despite your shouting, it does matter
I believe you, I haven't got a masters in maths....ps. my way is bettter!
* 2001: A Space Odyssey
That is incorrect. You don't have 'three things' you have three integers and two operations. The integers are 100, 10 and 10, the operations are a subtraction and an addition. Like you say, the minus is associated with the 10, because the minus sign is telling you to subtract the 10 from the 100. I fully appreciate that the way you work this out will always work, but you are subconsciously adding a negative, and not following the equation as it has been written. That's fine, but doesn't help when explaining the maths involved to others. People in this thread were explaining Bodmas to others, but you are introducing an alternative method without explaining it (or even realising you are doing it). You are not doing any subtractions in your method.
We all understand that, you are completely missing the point being discussed.
The equation we have been given is 100 - 10 + 10
Written in words the equation is 100 minus 10 plus 10
You however, do not agree with that. You don't think there's a subtraction in that equation. You think the equation is 100 plus negative 10 plus 10. It's fine that you work it out like that, but strictly speaking that would be written as 100 + -10 +10 but that's not the equation we were given (of course the result is the same, but we're discussing method here, not just results).
Just because the way you have learnt maths is to add negative numbers instead of subtracting positive numbers doesn't mean it's the only way. You seem to have learnt how to do it, you know it works, and you are now unwilling to listen to any other method. Bodmas is a method, a recognised method, and it's not the method you're using.
mreprice
Active member
Am I the only person really scared by this thread? Do half the people I meet think 6 - 0 + 1 equals 5?
Er, no. Don't you understand percentages? 16% of the people you meet think the answer is 5, but 16% is not a half.
Kidding
If we take the poll as being representative of the population in general the vast majority don't know how to formulate the correct answer. From those as small percentage claim that they can answer it, but can't click on the right part of a webpage!
Worrying times indeed!
Worrying times indeed!
Its BODMAS not BOMDAS!
Philzo-93
Well-known member
Or even BIDMAS!
This is correct: By-Of(Over)-Divide-Multiply-Add-Subtract
