But I'm down under....

Everything is back to front 

Quote from: dannyboy on August 06, 2019, 10:09:22 AM
Can we all agree that the answer is 1, (or 16), depending on your way of working out the formula and then put this to bed please? 

I still say that the answer is 42 - but that we'll need a more powerful computer to work out what the question is 

Quote from: njee20 on August 06, 2019, 10:06:33 AM

Quote from: PaulCheffus on August 06, 2019, 09:24:17 AM

Even then it would be 16 as division has a higher precedence than multiply.

Cheers

Paul

Actually they're equal, although obviously the D comes first in BODMAS

Hi

Nope that's the reason the (D) division comes first as it is more important than multiply. That's what I and the rest of the people in my office were taught at school in the 70s.

Cheers

Paul

What is Bodmas

QuoteMultiplication and division have the same level of order so complete from left to right

That echoes what I was taught in the 00s. Otherwise if you're in the US then multiplication is more important.

Quote from: njee20 on August 06, 2019, 10:39:58 AM
What is Bodmas

QuoteMultiplication and division have the same level of order so complete from left to right

That echoes what I was taught in the 00s. Otherwise if you're in the US then multiplication is more important.

Hi

Note it says if you have a calculation involving division and multiplication complete them as they appear left to right. Division is left of the multiplication hence first in that equation.

Cheers

Paul

Left to right as they appear in the equation you realise, not left to right in the acronym BODMAS...? They have the same precedence.

Whether D or M are equal doesn't affect the outcome in this case as we still go left to right so the first calculation is brackets (2+2) = 4. Then L to R you do the D next 8/2 = 4 then M 4 x 4 = 16.

For those still insistent that the answer can be 1, sorry but it can't be unless you are using a different system or adding brackets that don't exist. It isn't ambiguous, that is the whole point of BODMAS (and this question)!

Quote from: njee20 on August 06, 2019, 11:00:04 AM
Left to right as they appear in the equation you realise, not left to right in the acronym BODMAS...? They have the same precedence.

Hi

Please read all of what was written specifically the line below
Division is left of the multiplication hence first in that equation.

Cheers

Paul

BODMAS is a principle not a rule and it is the principle of "the order of computation".

When you step into more complex algebra the order holds but varies due to "variables" that cannot be resolved during calculation.

In the following you have to multiply the contents of the adjacent brackets together first before you resolve the contents of the brackets.

(ax+by)(ay+bx)=a²xy+b²xy+abx²+bay²=xy(a²+b²)+ab(x²+y²) =

That still basically follows the same principles...

Quote from: PaulCheffus on August 06, 2019, 11:29:52 AM

Please read all of what was written specifically the line below
Division is left of the multiplication hence first in that equation.

Goodo. We both agree that it's 16 FWIW, like Mike I can't see how anyone can make it 1, but division and multiplication are of equal precedence in BODMAS.

Now... who wants to punctuate this entirely reasonable sentence: :-)

"James while John had had had had had had had had had had had a better effect on the teacher"

James, while John had had "had", had had "had had"; "had had" had had a better effect on the teacher.

..possibly....

Cheers. Jon 

Correct! Was Wikipedia involved!?

Quote from: njee20 on August 06, 2019, 11:44:54 AM
That still basically follows the same principles...

Quote from: PaulCheffus on August 06, 2019, 11:29:52 AM

Please read all of what was written specifically the line below
Division is left of the multiplication hence first in that equation.

Goodo. We both agree that it's 16 FWIW, like Mike I can't see how anyone can make it 1, but division and multiplication are of equal precedence in BODMAS.

Now... who wants to punctuate this entirely reasonable sentence: :-)

"James while John had had had had had had had had had had had a better effect on the teacher"

Hi

Not a clue. English was never my strong point

Cheers

Paul

I think you've all been had 

Quote from: njee20 on August 06, 2019, 11:50:59 AM
Correct! Was Wikipedia involved!?

No....I vaguely remembered something similar from school... my friend James and I solved it differently.

Where I had had "James, while John had had "had", had had "had had"; "had had" had had a better effect on the teacher" my friend James had had  "James, while John had had "had had", had had "had"; "had had" had had a better effect on the teacher"; "James, while John had had "had", had had "had had"; "had had" had had a better effect on the teacher" had a better effect on the teacher.

But I think both were equally correct.

Cheers Jon