I find the lack of intelligence depressing

[CupboardNinja]

This has nothing to do with Math. The only challenge is whether or not you noticed the minus symbol.

 

[Raigne]

What bothers me more is the number of people who chose 14. They figured out that you multiply first, but then they couldn't count the rest of the 1's? Or they rounded down?

 

[Sikratua]

Ok, I realise facebook isn't the place to go for intelligence but seriously...

This is one those vote quiz things that goes around. If you look the answer 0 is winning on almost a million. This means almost a million people since this stared, a week ago, cannot do simple maths.

What's more is this is just those on facebook who've seen this and bothered to answer. This is a seriously depressing realisation of what humanity is becoming.

Edited to remove typo in title.

But if you multiply anything by 0 don't you always get 0?

As a rule, any multiplication or division is done before addition or subtraction, unless said addition or subtrations is in parentheses. Fourteen is the correct answer, in this case.

 

[Varya]

BEDMAS itself has nothing to do with math, it's an arbitrary system, math is logical.

I don't really know what you mean by that. The point of the Facebook question is to capitalise on the fact that applying functions in the wrong order results in different answers to the same question.

I mean that math is a constant. 1+1x3 will always be 4 But BEDMAS tells us how we write it. If we added before multiplying we'd have to write 1+(1x3) but the math would still be the same. Yes, there is logic to why BEDMAS is in that order, but it has nothing to do with math, per se.

Edit: To simplify. A basket with one egg and a basket with three eggs always equals four eggs, but if we write it 1+1x3 or 1+(1x3) is arbitrary. We could change it without making the actual math wrong.

I thought you might mean that. I was going to say 'it's only arbitrary insofar as that mathematical notation as a whole is arbitrary', but I decided not to. I probably should have done.

Anyhow, I wouldn't agree that 'arbitrary' is quite the correct term. While mathematical truths may exist independently of their notation, the nature of that notation is governed by the necessary logic of its subject, not by some arcane tradition or ancient decision.

And in the example you've given, while there are infinite ways to correctly write a single number, that doesn't seem relevant. Altering the notation can also produce infinite different answers. The difference between writing 1+1x3 and 1+(1x3) is arbitrary, but the difference between those and (1+1)x3 is not. The only purpose of brackets in mathematical notation is to alter the order of functions, and by moving them it is possible to change the solution to an equation.

I think we're on the same page but different paragraphs
In my example 1+(1x3) I was writing under the assumption that we used addition before multiplication, just as an example of how BEDMAS is arbirary. I guess the best example would have been one where the results would be clearly different from BEDMAS. Sorry if I'm a bit hazy on the details, I've never studied math outside the basics, and English is my second language so phrasing myself does not come as easy as I would like. I
BEDMAS is arbitrary in much the same way that a yellow circle with lines stretching out from it is an arbitrary representation of the sun. It's logical to use what we have, but it's not necessary that the symbol look in a specific way, just that it's recognized by all.

 

[inFAMOUSCowZ]

Still in highschool still learning pemdas. Easy problem for me, but a few years later I'll probably forget.

 

[Zechnophobe]

Thinking the answer is 0 means you have forgotten that you multiply before you add.
Thinking the answer is 17 means you didn't notice the minus signs hidden in the abusrdly long equation.

One of those is a matter of observation,and fairly minor. One is a matter of correctly recalling what is a fairly basic mathematical principle. Less minor.

 

[NiPah]

This is a seriously depressing realisation of what humanity is becoming.

The only depressing realization I've had on this thread is that some people are willing to believe the downfall of humanity based on a quiz going around on Facebook...

Hasn't science taught us anything? This level of overreaction isn't normally found outside of Fox news and PETA.

 

[Baneat]

This has nothing to do with Math. The only challenge is whether or not you noticed the minus symbol.

What minus symbol? Or am I walking into a trolling-trap?

 

[Raesvelg]

Well I really needed STR and CON, so I took INT as my dump stat. I mean, does a fighter really need INT at all?

OT: Wow, people got tricked by a purposefully misleading equation. What a surprise. Seriously, most people are going to skim it, notice the x0 at the end and go "Oh it's zero!". It's set up to evoke that response by putting a whole bunch of 1+1+1+... so that people won't want to read the whole thing and look for a short cut.

My Intelligence is a FOUR! OUTRAGEOUS!

Hand me that pencil..

Seriously though, it's not overly surprising that people remember the "Anything times zero equals zero" part of mathematics, but forget the order of operations.

 

[razer17]

Lack of mathematical prowess is small factor in the broad range of "intelligence". Most people forget about PEMDAS when they enter the real world. Way to generalize.

no. you can't do simple day-to-day equations without this, it's such a basic and important part of math that you don't ever forget.

The fact that you originally made a typo in the thread title screams "IRONY!". Apart from that, it must be nice to be in your position, us mere mortal must look like tiny ants while you sit up there on that high horse.

My instant reaction to the question was, in fact, 0. Now, does that mean I lack intelligence? No. I got an A at GCSE maths, and I would have had an A* if it weren't for the fact that I was really lazy with my coursework. So it's not like I didn't know my maths. Thing is, it clearly isn't that important. I have never had to use the rules of BODMAS since my time in school.

I've never been out shopping and thought "Oh dear, I need to multiply this item by zero!". In reality, there is no real life use for this.

Also, knowledge of an un-important aspect of maths doesn't equate to not being intelligent. It would be about as bad as saying that a single spelling mistake means you have a lack of intelligence.

(also, Captcha: Lost Dementor. The MoM shouldn't be losing those things, they're creepy)

 

[Flailing Escapist]

*First look.*
"It's obviously 0."
*Reads equation*
"Wait...."
*Looks at poll*
*-.-*
"It's 14, isn't it."
*Reads equation again.*
"Damn. It is 14."

Well played, math.

 

[Church256]

None of the answers are correct. 1x0 = 0. so 1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1-1+1+1+1+1+1 = 15.

If there's anything wrong with that it's from the source material and not my fault (counted it out 3 times).

 

[Agayek]

But if you multiply anything by 0 don't you always get 0?

Order of operations dictates that you're only multiplying one of the ones by 0.

Unless you're being facetious. In that case:

 

[sheic99]

Ok, I realise facebook isn't the place to go for intelligence but seriously...

This is one those vote quiz things that goes around. If you look the answer 0 is winning on almost a million. This means almost a million people since this stared, a week ago, cannot do simple maths.

What's more is this is just those on facebook who've seen this and bothered to answer. This is a seriously depressing realisation of what humanity is becoming.

Edited to remove typo in title.

You do realize that it's multiplied by 0 at the end, yes? That means that it equals 0.

0 is the correct answer. Do the equation you are given. Not the one you wish you had. The equation you are given has the x0 at the end. Not the beginning, not in brackets so yes, 0 is the correct answer.

Order of operations, only the final 1 gets multiplied by 0 because you do the multiplication first. Then you add the rest and subtract the -1. You don't just go left to right.

That's not quite right either. You do the multiplication first, and then you work left to right for addition and subtraction at the same time. And yes I know I'm splitting hairs here.

OT: The problem is written in a way to fuck with people. I didn't see the subtraction sign until other people mentioned it.

 

[BGH122]

I hope Artanis_neravar was joking...

OT:Ok, I thought some people would get that question wrong because they read it too quickly or had a brain fart, but I didn't think like 35% of the facebook population would get it wrong.

9+3 =12, 12*2=24, 48/24=2 how is that bad?

I was taught that one is supposed to go from left to right with multiplications and divisions, as they're equivalent in order:

48/2*(9+3)

Parenthesis first: 48/2*12
Exponents second: None in problem
Division and Multiplication third, with left to right: 48/2=24*12=288 (if my mental arithmetic is okay, I can't be bothered to run calc.exe)
Addition and Subtraction last: None in problem

I therefore get the answer 288. I can see where you got 2, but in equivalent orders one is supposed to read from left to right iirc. But it's been ages since I did any maths that wasn't incredibly specific science stuff (which is basically all algebra, graphs and stats), so I could be wrong.

I suspect the original meme to which the original poster of this mini-derailment was alluding was '48÷2(9+3) = ?' [http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/48293#.TfgFiEesm2U]. It's renowned for giving calculators one of two different answers, either 288 or 2, depending on how they're coded to deal with equivalent orders of operation.

So don't feel bad, yours is an answer a lot of calculators give.

*First look.*
"It's obviously 0."
*Reads equation*
"Wait...."
*Looks at poll*
*-.-*
"It's 14, isn't it."
*Reads equation again.*
"Damn. It is 14."

Well played, math.

*Shakes fist*

Damn you maths!!!

Why've you always got to be such a bummer, maths? Here we are, enjoying a brew and chatting about things on teh intarwebs and along you come, all smug and reeking of prep-school. We hate you maths. Whenever you turn up to the party you always kill the mood. At least science teaches us cool things about stuff like why those blood stains haven't come out of my bar-fighting clothes yet, or why beer tastes so good. Why can't you be more like science, maths? He's a pretty cool guy.

Go home, maths. Nobody wants you here.