this post was submitted on 12 Dec 2023
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6÷2(1+2) (programming.dev)
submitted 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
 

https://zeta.one/viral-math/

I wrote a (very long) blog post about those viral math problems and am looking for feedback, especially from people who are not convinced that the problem is ambiguous.

It's about a 30min read so thank you in advance if you really take the time to read it, but I think it's worth it if you joined such discussions in the past, but I'm probably biased because I wrote it :)

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[–] [email protected] 58 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (3 children)

Ackshually, the answer is 4

6÷2*(1+2)

6÷(1+2)*2

6÷(3)*2

2*2

4

You're welcome

[–] [email protected] 36 points 11 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)
[–] [email protected] 11 points 11 months ago

c/TheyDidAMath

[–] [email protected] 0 points 11 months ago (2 children)

If there are rules about which dot comes first then you are not allowed to do this.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 11 months ago (2 children)

You aren't allowed to do this because division isn't transitive.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

In fact you're not allowed to add the multiplication - it breaks up the factorised term, hence gives a different answer.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

The rule is you're not allowed to add dots (multiplication) - broke up the factorised term, which is why a different answer.