maths problem

[rsvp]

have just seen this and would welcome thoughts from greater brains than mine!
4x4+4x4+4-4x4 = ?.......I got20 but has been a long time since I was at school.
My reasoning is .....
(4x4)+(4x4) = 32
32+4= 36
- (4x4) 16 therefore answer is 36-16 =20

Very happy to be proven wrong but would love to know why!!! thank you

[factor-fiction]

My 'no' was to Joe

[Mick-Talbot]

Joe, just for once ..................accept you were wrong.

[B00]

Yes! Now you're getting where i was trying to go.

If the brackets were there in the 1st place, id have got the same answer, but they weren't- and I don't understand why everyone seemingly rightfully assumed they had to be inserted.

[ChuckFickens]

As Aberrent said on the previous page, the brackets are not required, they are purely used to help indicate what people are thinking.

the calculation 4x4+4x4+4-4x4= as it stands can only be worked out one correct way.

[factor-fiction]

Boo- because that is the rule.

[joeluke]

'Joe, just for once ..................accept you were wrong.'


MT.......read my Av for your answer to that

[Prudie]

"but I dont understand the need for a rule in the first place" theoretically to ensure a consistent answer is reached (in this case 20 and not 320)

[B00]

Yes but...

oh never mind

:P

[joeluke]

Anyway, this thread has achieved something many thought wou'd never happen

Me and Boo agreeing!

Make the most of it cos it'll never happen again

[mibn2cweus]

4x4+4x4+4-4x4 = ?

So what's the value of 'x' then? :o/

[Prudie]

PMSL and you asked me why I said you were being controversial :-)

[starone]

Never mind joe, I got 128 and don't ask I can't understand maths anyway. In my opinion all you need is how to add up and take away with a bit of multiplication and division. All these brackets don't mean a thing to me. And why do you slavishly have to follow this bloke's book whoever he was. It is much more fun for us all to get different answers.

[B00]

Star- i love you, lol xxx

[Mick-Talbot]

Yeah ....Never mind joe....

[starone]

Love you too BOO.

[joeluke]

Did you read my Av MT?

[starone]

Platonic only, of course.

[MarkRae]

Mother: How's it going with your new boyfriend?
Daughter: It's plutonic.
Mother: Don't you mean platonic?
Daughter: No, it's like going out with Mickey Mouse's dog.

[mike11111]

Oh dear, Mark scrapeth the barrell!