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

[Mick-Talbot]

Best thread of the day.
Odd to get 100+ when the first answer sorted it ......

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

I was taught it with no preference Methyl, but I will follow your order from now on because why not. I've never gone wrong with my way, but then I've never had to do complicated equations that require a high level of accuracy.
Thanks for putting it so reasonably.

[ChuckFickens]

Just lay it out in RPN, problem solved....

[B00]

Well technically Mr Talbot, the answer was already given in the OP.

[Prudie]

^ now that takes me back (I think). When on a course in Basic programming language an assignment was to take a 'sum' and get the program to convert it to reverse polish. Is that what you mean chuck?

[ChuckFickens]

"yes" would have answered the actual OP :)

[ChuckFickens]

Yes, prudie, reverse Polish notation does away with all this ambiguity.

[MarkRae]

> "yes" would have answered the actual OP

Aye thang yew.

[Wordist]

but if you've never heard of BIDMAS/BODMAS, then logically joeluke has given the right answer.

Carry on - don't mind me.

[mike11111]

"reverse Polish notation does away with all this ambiguity"

If this is a joke it's a bloody good one, and if it is not a joke it's an even funnier one!

[B00]

"but if you've never heard of BIDMAS/BODMAS, then logically joeluke has given the right answer. "

And Boo...

[mike11111]

Just stick to cake, pet, don't argue with the big boys.

[sherrardk]

^ Mike 1111 - are you brave or stupid?

[B00]

oi!

I might have cakes, and brains the size of a walnut mike, but I also have a ban button ;-)

[kawakiri]

What about 2-3+1=?

[ChuckFickens]

0

go left to right if the operators are the same priority.