Post #4436512
2026-08-06 14:18 UTC
RE: https://dotnet.social/@SmartmanApps/117006976986454267
I love this post. The explanation thread right after the poll surprised me and made me think differently about what PEMDAS/BEDMAS/BODMAS etc. mean. It's well worth a read!
18 ÷ 3 x 2 is not the same as 18 ÷ (3 x 2) but not because of PEMDAS. It's because they're completely different expressions:
18 ÷ (3 x 2) = 18 ÷ 3 ÷ 2 NOT 18 ÷ 3 x 2
18 ÷ 3 x 2 is in fact a completely unambiguous expression that has only one correct answer, and the reason is not PEMDAS but the nature of division itself. The purpose of PEMDAS is just to help you avoid mistakes.
Replies (1)
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@IceWolf@masto.brightfur.net 2026-08-06 14:32
@glynwolf@tiggi.es Eh? I kinda agree with the critter downthread who says the actual math doesn't define this and it's purely notation conventions. 18 ÷ 3 x 2 is in fact ambiguous unless you have a precedence rule telling you what exactly it's supposed to mean (and to be fair, there often is).