Simple math problem. And the answer is..?

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StrangerGuy

Diamond Member
May 9, 2004
8,443
124
106
Intelligent people don't write and leave math equations with even the slightest ambiguity. For starters I haven't used the division sign and was taught to replace that with fractions in school since I was like 10.
 

aigomorla

CPU, Cases&Cooling Mod PC Gaming Mod Elite Member
Super Moderator
Sep 28, 2005
20,873
3,226
126
PEMDAS...

Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sara.
parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction

oh wait is that even an answer?
 

SSSnail

Lifer
Nov 29, 2006
17,461
82
86
Your superficial understanding of PEMDAS is flawed, and you don't understand nuance. The problem you wrote is obviously designed for you to claim that people are wrong, by you sticking to an overzealous understanding of PEMDAS. A mathematician would look at that and say the answer is 1. The mathematician would also say that your expression is poorly and ambiguously written. Because of your spacing, and use of the division symbol ÷ right next to 1/3, no mathematician would claim that the interpretation of 3 divided by one-third is an incorrect interpretation, and that 3 divided by 1, then divided by 3 is a better interpretation.

Suffice to say, you probably have one of those Beavis and Butthead laughs when someone says the answer is 1, instead of the answer of 9 that you're going to claim is correct.
I like your style Dr. Pizza.

OP, this is not even a clever troll job, and it's been way done here before.

Now get off Facebook, and my lawn.

Oh, and my apologies if I hadn't provide the solution to your question, after careful calculations and double checking, the answer is you're a dumb ass.
 
Last edited:

SOFTengCOMPelec

Platinum Member
May 9, 2013
2,417
75
91
Lets see how long it takes for someone to post a wrong answer.

9 - 3 ÷ 1/3 + 1 = ?

I've got two answers.

The first is, the (probably) CORRECT version fo the question:



Then my answer to the (corrected) question.

Which is 1.

9 - (9) + 1 = 1
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
67,881
12,354
126
www.anyf.ca
There's probably more than one way to interpret that. Here's my take:

9 - 3 ÷ 1/3 + 1
(9 - 3 ÷ 1) / (3 + 1)
6 / 4
1.5

You are right, the "group" is called...
AL GEBRA, and is fighting FOR MULAs and other animals.

Freaking radicals!

Speaking of math and terrorism, a flight was cancelled because some crazy woman was scared of math equations: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36240523
 

Subyman

Moderator <br> VC&G Forum
Mar 18, 2005
7,876
32
86
Through my lens I got 1. The inconsistent use of the division symbol causes me to assume the writer meant it to be a fraction and not another division symbol for order of operations. FWIW, most mathematicians and scientists overuse parenthesis to make it very clear what they mean.
 

Imp

Lifer
Feb 8, 2000
18,829
184
106
Saw this on Dailymail days ago.........

And this is probably exactly why I never saw the division sign after grade 2 or 3 again. Shit like this causes unnecessary confusion.

Six years of engineering in college + grad, never had to deal with this kind of shit and I had to write long equations into Excel with 5+ layers of brackets often. Saw the equation in OP, suddenly got confused because I knew it was an order of operations "problem" and over-thought it.
 

Markbnj

Elite Member <br>Moderator Emeritus
Moderator
Sep 16, 2005
15,682
13
81
www.markbetz.net
Your superficial understanding of PEMDAS is flawed, and you don't understand nuance. The problem you wrote is obviously designed for you to claim that people are wrong, by you sticking to an overzealous understanding of PEMDAS. A mathematician would look at that and say the answer is 1. The mathematician would also say that your expression is poorly and ambiguously written. Because of your spacing, and use of the division symbol ÷ right next to 1/3, no mathematician would claim that the interpretation of 3 divided by one-third is an incorrect interpretation, and that 3 divided by 1, then divided by 3 is a better interpretation.

Suffice to say, you probably have one of those Beavis and Butthead laughs when someone says the answer is 1, instead of the answer of 9 that you're going to claim is correct.

This, and also, this equation was published in the Daily Mail a day or so ago as one of their regular "OMG teh internet is confused by this!" features.
 
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