If you thought 8 ÷ 2(2+2) = ? was stupid and pointless, so did a lot of mathematicians.https://nyti.ms/2YKDk9f
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8/2a=16 8 -- = 1 2a In the second equation the 2a is understood to have parentheses around it by the notation it was written in. When writing on a single line, you need to be aware of the need for parentheses when you intend things to be done in a certain order.
Yeah, but now you're just making up stuff ("understood") as you go along. The point is that it's not unreasonable to interpret 8 ÷ 2a as 8 -- 2a which, again, is why you don't use ÷ when learning algebra.
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I’m with you that it’s unconventional, but substitute the divide sign with a slash, and would you make the same argument? And no I’m not making that up. Maybe understood isn’t the right word but if there aren’t parentheses there, you can’t just imagine there because u want to.
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Of course you can. If it’s set up as fraction, that is EXACTLY what happens. There are implied parentheses around the denominator. Just as you’re imagining parentheses around 8 ÷ 2.
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Actually understood is the right word. Because I put it in the denominator on purpose to illustrate my point.
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