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What math operation order do you use? (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 days ago by TotallyWorthLife@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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I have seen several people saying the order operation is

Brackets/Parenthesis
Orders (roots and powers)
Divisions
Multiplications
Subtractions
Additions

But I was taught it as

Brackets/Parenthesis
Roots and powers, left to right (independently of the exact operation)
Divisions and multiplications, left to right (independently of the exact operation)
Subtractions and additions, left to right (independently of the exact operation)

So, what order were you taught and/or use today?

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[–] otter@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

It's not important, just an observation of spoken language. Similar to the order of adjectives or how there's usually a "correct" sounding way to list two names.

If anything, it might explain why people are tied to a particular order of multiplication and division

https://englishan.com/order-of-adjectives/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonaesthetics

[–] blackbrook@mander.xyz 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

FWIW they all sound equally ok to me. I never learned any of these acronyms, tho I've come across them on occasion, and if someone had presented any of the 4 as THE acronym for this I'd have believed them.

[–] otter@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 day ago

I think because I read about this riddle in the past, I might have built up some associations myself. So maybe there's actually nothing there 😄