Post #2759915
2026-05-14 07:23 UTC
Replies (1)
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@mic_check_one_two@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2026-05-14 20:06
This is actually a generational thing. Millennials were taught “PEMDAS”: Parenthesis Exponent Multiplication Division Addition Subtraction But younger generations have been taught “BEDMAS” instead: Brackets Exponent Division Multiplication Addition Subtraction Notably, Division and Multiplication are swapped on PEMDAS and BEDMAS, to make this “both happen at the same time” more straightforward. But that only applies if the entire operation can happen at the same time. For instance, let’s say 6/2(3) compared to 6÷2(3). At first glance, they both appear to be the same operation. But in the former, the 6 dividend would be over the entire 2(3) divisor. Which means you would need to simplify the divisor (by resolving the multiplication of 2•3) before you divide. So the former would simplify to 6/6=1, while the latter would divide first and become 3(3)=9. Technically, if you wanted to be completely clear, you would write it using multiple parenthesis as needed. For instance, you would write it as either: (6÷2)(3)=9 or 6÷(2(3))=1 to avoid the ambiguity. Then it wouldn’t matter if you’re using PEMDAS or BEDMAS.