Basic question
- Thread starter w/ewew/e
- Start date
Dr.Peterson
Elite Member
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2017
- Messages
- 16,865
Have you learned the order of operations (operator precedence)?
The expression 3.5-1.5/3.5 means 3.5 - (1.5/3.5), not (3.5 - 1.5)/3.5.
The expression 3.5-1.5/3.5 means 3.5 - (1.5/3.5), not (3.5 - 1.5)/3.5.
Otis
Elite Member
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2015
- Messages
- 4,589
Hello w/ewew/e. These are different expressions:
\(\displaystyle 3.5 - \frac{1.5}{3.5}\)
\(\displaystyle \frac{3.5 - 1.5}{3.5}\)
In the first expression, we do the division first.
In the second expression, we do the subtraction first.
Typing 3.5-1.5/3.5 means the first expression.
For the second expression, we type grouping symbols around the numerator (like Dr. Peterson showed).
Here are some links to lessons about Order of Operations:
?
\(\displaystyle 3.5 - \frac{1.5}{3.5}\)
\(\displaystyle \frac{3.5 - 1.5}{3.5}\)
In the first expression, we do the division first.
In the second expression, we do the subtraction first.
Typing 3.5-1.5/3.5 means the first expression.
For the second expression, we type grouping symbols around the numerator (like Dr. Peterson showed).
Here are some links to lessons about Order of Operations:
Order of Operations (Illustrated Math Dictionary)
The rules that say which calculation comes first in an expression. They are: do everything inside parentheses...
www.mathsisfun.com
Order of Operations - PEMDAS
Operations mean things like add, subtract, multiply, divide, squaring, and so on. If it isn't a number it is probably an operation.
www.mathsisfun.com
?