Basic question

[herojn4355]

Why is 3.5-1.5/3.5 not the same as 2/3.5?
3.5-1.5/3.5= 3.0714
2/3.5= 0.5714

why do they give different results

 

[skeeter]

order of operations …

in your initial expression, the division is done first, then the subtraction

[MATH]3.5 - \frac{1.5}{3.5} = \frac{7}{2}-\frac{3}{7} = \frac{43}{14} \ne \frac{3.5-1.5}{3.5} = \frac{2}{3.5}= \frac{4}{7}[/MATH]

 

[HallsofIvy]

3.5- 1.5/3.5 is NOT the same as (3.5- 1.5)/3.5!