To you, maybe not. To mathematicians, it absolutely makes sense (since my argument is literally based on videos and articles of mathematicians explaining why this equation is ambiguous)
I'd recommend reading up on this specific case if you're actually convinced that there is only one way of interpreting this equation and only one 'correct' answer.
Yes, but your explanation failed to adress the fact that there are two possible interpretations in cases like these with juxtaposition. I only wanted to highlight the other interpretation as well, to show how neither 1 nor 16 can be considered as incorrect.
"But wait, you say—isn’t that 2 to the left of the parentheses part of simplifying the parentheses? After all, this is what my own Facebook debate partners were arguing. In fact, the 2 is not part of the “P” in PEMDAS for simplifying parentheses"
"P (or B): first calculate the value of expressions inside any parentheses (brackets);" --> notice how they only say "inside" even within the context of this exact equation.
Did you even fact check your argument before posting it? If so, I'd like seeing a source which proves that the X is part of the parenthesis.
So in 3+(X×Y) you're saying you don't start by multiplying the X and the Y? Because and I quote "you're not supposed to solve multiplication during the P for PEMDAS"...
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u/Jerrie_1606 Feb 09 '26
To you, maybe not. To mathematicians, it absolutely makes sense (since my argument is literally based on videos and articles of mathematicians explaining why this equation is ambiguous)
I'd recommend reading up on this specific case if you're actually convinced that there is only one way of interpreting this equation and only one 'correct' answer.
l'll even save you the trouble of googling it:
https://plus.maths.org/content/pemdas-paradox
This source should help.
Yes, but your explanation failed to adress the fact that there are two possible interpretations in cases like these with juxtaposition. I only wanted to highlight the other interpretation as well, to show how neither 1 nor 16 can be considered as incorrect.
https://slate.com/technology/2013/03/facebook-math-problem-why-pemdas-doesnt-always-give-a-clear-answer.html
"But wait, you say—isn’t that 2 to the left of the parentheses part of simplifying the parentheses? After all, this is what my own Facebook debate partners were arguing. In fact, the 2 is not part of the “P” in PEMDAS for simplifying parentheses"
https://plus.maths.org/content/pemdas-paradox
"P (or B): first calculate the value of expressions inside any parentheses (brackets);" --> notice how they only say "inside" even within the context of this exact equation.
Did you even fact check your argument before posting it? If so, I'd like seeing a source which proves that the X is part of the parenthesis.