It just doesn't add up

[charitynjw]

A recent study shows that only 35% of the population have a math-related qualification.

The other half couldn't give a damn!......................

[Snoopy1948]

Re: It just doesn't add up

Wonderful! But have you seen the plethora of 'maths puzzles' on the internet recently such as :


They state 'only for geniuses' and then people go on to say ( when you question it ) that anyone with fourth grade maths can answer it! I did maths at uni ( when it truly becomes a foreign language ) but such puzzles do my head in as they appear to have little validity in real life. The base advice to complete this puzzle is to obey 'The Order of Operations' which in itself can be challenged in interpretation. Any stabs at this one?

[charitynjw]

Re: It just doesn't add up

Wonderful! But have you seen the plethora of 'maths puzzles' on the internet recently such as :


They state 'only for geniuses' and then people go on to say ( when you question it ) that anyone with fourth grade maths can answer it! I did maths at uni ( when it truly becomes a foreign language ) but such puzzles do my head in as they appear to have little validity in real life. The base advice to complete this puzzle is to obey 'The Order of Operations' which in itself can be challenged in interpretation. Any stabs at this one?

A/ Time for the pub?

(I'll have a stab......10)

[Crazy council]

Re: It just doesn't add up

10 or 58 , depending on how you handle the. (3) .

'The Order of Operations' which in itself can be challenged in interpretation.

agreed and it dumbs down math, and some are so ambiguous that there not confidently answerable or dont make sense.

[Nibbler]

Re: It just doesn't add up

For writing an expression in such a stupid way = 0 marks

[des8]

Re: It just doesn't add up

Well I had a classical education and if the number isn't expressed in letters, to the despair of my bank manager, I don't recognise it!

[Snoopy1948]

Re: It just doesn't add up

Thank you everyone for your comments on here and I applaud the agreement that the whole thing is inane!

I pick these kind of things up on Facebook and you would not believe the aggressive responses that I get when I question the uselessness of the whole thing. Most responses were from our American friends who seem to have a higher appreciation of righteousness when it comes to the right way to do things, one even accusing me of verbal diarrhoea and that I should get a life!

Have to say, out of sheer frustration, I researched this and the order of operations states that multiplication and division should be executed first and additions and deductions thereafter. Why they cannot simply insert parenthesis at the appropriate places to simply this I have no idea.

So, in this example, and reading from the preferred 'left to right', the equation is as follows ( apparently )

{( 6 squared divided by 2 ) x 3} plus 4 = 54 + 4 = 58
I am told that is the concise reply, according to the powers that be.


But, equally sensibly, why shouldn't it be interpreted as :

( 6 squared ) divided by ( 2x3 ) and then plus 4 = 10.

Congrats to Crazy Council here ... ! :stars:


There you go .... make parentheses a legal requirement, toss exponents into the sea and live a quieter life! Thanks for reading everyone !