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Basic Algebra
Hey, my mom and I are arguing over the answer to this simple math question. Help us out. What's the answer?
4 * 3 / 3 * 2 = ?
This isn't a fraction, and "3 / 3" is not a fraction. I would use that little sign with the line with a dot on the top and bottom, but I don't know how to make it.
I think the answer is 8. She insists it's 2. I thought order of operations says that it goes left to right with multiplication or division. She says that you multiply on each side of the division sign first, though. Can anyone verify this?
Thanks,
Ramzi
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It is in fact 8
4*3/3*2 works out to be
12/3*2 from left to write you do multiplying or dividing, whichever comes first. so
(12/3)*2 division comes first.
4*2
8
sorry mom
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believe mt, the answer is 2
4*3 = 12
3*2 = 6
12/6 = 2
well ur mom right
xmaddness wondering u somehow multiply 4*2 . u make it wrong here, (12/3)*2. u suppose to wrote it (12/3)*1/2. where i get 1/2. actually the operation is divide but dunno somehow u change it to multiple. so the answer is 2.
the lesson is, never argue with ur mom if u're not really sure. lol
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yes, you're right y2k, the rule goes this way:
Parentheses
Exponentiation
Multiplication
Division
Addition
Subtraction
=PEMDAS> easy was to remember it...
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sorry y2k, it's 8. and my ti-89 agrees with me.
http://amby.com/educate/ord-op/
mulitiplication and division have the same precidence:
Parentheses (Innermost, first)
Exponents (Powers or roots)
Multiply or Divide (from LEFT-to-RIGHT)
Add or Subtract (from LEFT-to-RIGHT)
* First, copy the problem EXACTLY.
* Then go through each level of operations (Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally).
* DO THE OPERATIONS WITHIN EACH LEVEL FROM LEFT-TO-RIGHT.
* Write the answer directly below the operation sign.
* Bring down the other numbers (be careful not to re-use any).
* Continue until all operations are completed.
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I agree the answer is 8.I've always went by what jabberwocky has posted and have gotten good grades in algebra.Besides my calculator said so.
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try this
#include <stdio.h>
main()
{
int c;
c = 4 * 3 / 3 * 2;
printf("\n %d" , c) ;
}
compile and run it..
but i hope its 8
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Your C program gives 8 on compile and run - that should settle it :)
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Ill second that, the answer is 8
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This question would be a lot easier to settle with a couple of these guys ( and ) (Paranthesis or something). It could be:
(4*3)/(2*3) = 8
or:
4*(3/(2*3)) = 2
or:
((4*3)/2)*3 = 18
Don´t which one Ramzi was thinking about, so I can´t give an answer!
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I always thought that when doing something like this you use BODMAS
4*3/3*2
so you work out the multiplication first
4*3 and 3*2
then work out the division
12 / 6
= 2
which is the correct answer
=0)
The calculater doesnt work out the math in the correct order it works from left to right --->
Hope this helps
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Haha. This is great. I can't believe we got so many mixed responses. These responses were a great reenactment of how the argument with my mom went.
But what's the answer? When so many of you seem smart, and back your answers with official rules, it's hard to know which way to side. Math is exact, and there're supposed to be rules. I'm just so surprised this thread is torn over something as basic as algebra. Hmm... I'll ask my geometry teacher later today in third period. I'm in the first period now. (C++).
Alright, thanks for all your responses guys.
Ramzi
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Well, I'm throwing my answer in and saying that the answer is most certainly 8, not 2...
4 * 3 / 3 * 2 = 8
Basically, I'll break it down like this.. With no parantheses, you look at multiplication and division in the same light, from left to right - that is, whichever one you get to first, you do... 4 * 3 = 12 / 3 = 4 * 2 = 8...
The answer is 8...
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What if you wrote the problem like this:
4 * 3
------ = ?
3 * 2
Now there is no "left to right" rule to think about for the division. Only the multiplication. If I saw this equation like this, I would immediately cancel the 3's out, and be left with 4 divided by 2. There can't be a rule that is dependant on how you write the equation. My bet is the answer is 2.
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Quote:
Originally posted here by roswell1329
There can't be a rule that is dependant on how you write the equation
4 * 3
------ <> 4 * 3 / 3 * 2
3 * 2
4 * 3
------- = (4 * 3) / (3 * 2)
3 * 2
Quote:
Originally posted here by Its_Ramzi
This isn't a fraction, and "3 / 3" is not a fraction
The way it was initially written, and the way that he explained the problem, indicates that the answer is indeed 8.
Why don't we just put it in a poll :D
-toad
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It all depends on the parentheses. If it is 4*3/3*2 then 8 is the correct answer. However, if it is (4*3)/(3*2) then the answer is 2.
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Quote:
Originally posted here by Jabberwocky
sorry y2k, it's 8. and my ti-89 agrees with me.
http://amby.com/educate/ord-op/
mulitiplication and division have the same precidence:
Parentheses (Innermost, first)
Exponents (Powers or roots)
Multiply or Divide (from LEFT-to-RIGHT)
Add or Subtract (from LEFT-to-RIGHT)
* First, copy the problem EXACTLY.
* Then go through each level of operations (Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally).
* DO THE OPERATIONS WITHIN EACH LEVEL FROM LEFT-TO-RIGHT.
* Write the answer directly below the operation sign.
* Bring down the other numbers (be careful not to re-use any).
* Continue until all operations are completed.
This, of course, is absolutely correct. This is what I was taught in school, and by my Father, the Math Major. Order of Operations is key, and in the absence of parenthesis, must be completed left to right, multiplication and division first, addition and subtraction second.
4*3/3*2
[12]/3*2
[4]*2
8
If it were written (4*3)/(3*2), your mother would be right on the money. But it's not, so you are correct. The answer is 8.
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Quote:
Originally posted here by roswell1329
What if you wrote the problem like this:
4 * 3
------ = ?
3 * 2
Now there is no "left to right" rule to think about for the division. Only the multiplication. If I saw this equation like this, I would immediately cancel the 3's out, and be left with 4 divided by 2. There can't be a rule that is dependant on how you write the equation. My bet is the answer is 2.
By writing the equation like that, you are basically assigning parantheses around the 4 * 3 and around the 3 * 2 - which does change the answer. In the original problem, there are no parantheses, so the original and yours are two different problems, with two different answers. The answer to the original problem is still 8, the answer to your problem is 2.
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Quote:
Originally posted here by Maverick811
By writing the equation like that, you are basically assigning parantheses around the 4 * 3 and around the 3 * 2 - which does change the answer. In the original problem, there are no parantheses, so the original and yours are two different problems, with two different answers. The answer to the original problem is still 8, the answer to your problem is 2.
Arrggh!! You're absolutely right! Foiled again by my own absurd sense of logic. Here was my falacy:
4 * 3 / 3 * 2 = ?
is not the same as
4 * 3
------ = ?
3 * 2
To write
4 * 3 / 3 * 2 = ?
another way, you would have to do this:
.......3
4 * --- * 2 = ?
.......3
This would, of course, translate to:
4 * 1 * 2 = 8
So, the answer is 8! Whoopee! Many apologies to those I may have led astray with my warped logic and utter lack of mathematical sense. :bigsmile:
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do we have math teacher in here. believe me the answer is 2. gghornet u press ur cal wrongly. i believe u multiple the answer with 2.but if u all see carefully 2 is divided by the answer.
always stick to my mind
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ug i can't believe this thread has gotton this long. i minored in math in college and i'm telling you that since there's no parenthisis, mulitiplication and division have the same precidence so you must work threw in order how they appear in the problem. the answer is 8.
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Quote:
Originally posted here by y2k
do we have math teacher in here. believe me the answer is 2. gghornet u press ur cal wrongly. i believe u multiple the answer with 2.but if u all see carefully 2 is divided by the answer.
always stick to my mind
2 is most certainly NOT the right answer, it is 8. You are trying to solve an equation with parantheses when there are none.. As Jabberwocky states above, without the parantheses, you treat multiplication and division the same going from left to right - doing so yields an answer of 8.
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LOL
My dad is a math teacher and I have my Associates degree in Engineering. I'm continuing to get my bachelors degree in Computer engineering. You don't get past calculus without knowing how to do basic order of operations things. Okay here goes.
Please ()
Excuse ^ (exponents)
My *
Dear ---
Aunt +
Sally -
Now the rule states that you do () first, then exponents, thats fine.
The next part is Multiplication and Division, but it doesn't need to be in that order. Its whatever comes first left to right. in this case you multiply 4*3 first, next comes the division, 12/3, then comes the last multiplication 4*2. the answer is most definetly 8.
it works out the same as this:
4*3
----- * 2
..3
That is how this works, end of story, no more argument. :D
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We have 13 answers of 8
There are 4 answers of 2
8 is the correct answer
Never argue math with xmaddness
Regards
Mike
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Come on guys, ur all computer security people right ? Surely we all did math here at school remember bodmas or pedmas, come on just key it into a calculator for christ sake. Or use your computer and compile it, the answer is 8 !
Perhaps someone should run a Basic Math thread !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Only joking guys not being condescending just trying to help.
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I agree with xmaddness and titanmike,the answer is defenitely 8.On a lighter note, isn't maths wonderfull,just look at the response this thread has prevoked.Yet you still hear everyday that maths are not that important,but you need it in almost everything you do and implement.
We did not go to kinder garden for nothing did we? ha..ha.
regards
v/man:)
