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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I agree it’s pedantic AF, but you shouldn’t soft-pedal a ‘both sides have their point’ argument because the ‘controversy’ is driven exclusively by ignorance. Professionals and higher ed consistently prescribe how to handle this. We really need to be on the same pg on this stuff.
If you read my essay, it’s exactly the professionals and higher ed who are exasperated by people slavishly using PEMDAS without understanding why or if it makes sense.
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What are the reasons and why does it make sense? I'll admit I really don't know the answers to either of those, and I mainly use it out of convention so that I can figure out what a badly written bit of code will do. Your article doesn't get into that.
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The conventions of PEMDAS are fine and indeed essential for performing calculations. The equation in question is deliberately constructed to mislead people to do the "wrong" thing. There's no there there.
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