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Lame ass maths riddle

  • 20-04-2011 11:21pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,178 ✭✭✭nyarlothothep


    What is 30÷2(2+3)÷5

    Is it 15?

    or 0.6?
    ...
    Or is this question broken?


«1

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 34,418 ✭✭✭✭hondasam


    I Don't understand the question


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,178 ✭✭✭nyarlothothep


    Well what does the equation equal? Or is there something wrong with it?


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    Isn't it 15?

    30 divided by two

    equals 15

    2 plus three equals 5

    15 multiplied by five equals 75

    75 divided by five is fifteen.

    No? It's been a while since I was in school, but I thought that was the way it worked


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,109 ✭✭✭Cavehill Red


    It's 30 over the 2(2+3) over 5.
    So that's 30 divided by (2X5) divided by 5.
    Which is 30/10 divided by 5.
    Which is 3/5 = 0.6.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 841 ✭✭✭JBnaglfar


    ^^ I got that at first.

    If you want to get 15 you can.

    2(2+3) divided by 5 = 2
    30 divided by 2 = 15.

    This is basically asking 30 divided by 10 divided by 5, and I didn't think maths necessarily went from left to right.

    Edit: google suggests .6 is correct
    link


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,178 ✭✭✭nyarlothothep


    I love troll maths


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 568 ✭✭✭mari2222


    it is 15. to get the answer .6 you would need another set of brackets within the equation.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,178 ✭✭✭nyarlothothep


    Here's another one

    -20=-20
    16-36=25-45 (16-36=-20,25-45=-20)
    4^2-36 = 5^2-45 (4^2=16,5^2=25)
    4^2-36 = 5^2-45
    4^2-2.4.9/2 = 5^2-2.5.9/2 (2.4.9/2=36,2.5.9/2=45)
    4^2-2.4.9/2 +(9/2)^2 = 5^2-2.5.9/2 +(9/2)^2 (adding both the sides (9/2)^2
    [4-(9/2)]^2 = [5-(9/2)]^2 (let 4=a,9/2=b)
    4-(9/2) = 5-(9/2)
    4 = 5
    2+2 = 5

    And

    10x^2-19x=-6 =?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 162 ✭✭2cool4school


    youve lost me lads


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,822 ✭✭✭stimpson




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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 373 ✭✭desertstorm


    1290616506315.jpg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,728 ✭✭✭MoodeRator


    What is 30÷2(2+3)÷5

    Is it 15?

    or 0.6?
    ...
    Or is this question broken?
    30÷2(2+3)÷5
    15(5)/5
    =15:confused:
    Maybe or maybe not. But I read it exactly the same as Papa smut


  • Posts: 0 CMod ✭✭✭✭ Angel Sticky Munchies


    0.6 - brackets first, then multiplication, then divide left->right

    A common technique for remembering the order of operations is the abbreviation "PEMDAS", which is turned into the phrase "Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally". It stands for "Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, and Addition and Subtraction".
    http://www.purplemath.com/modules/orderops.htm


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,728 ✭✭✭MoodeRator


    bluewolf wrote: »
    0.6 - brackets first, then multiplication, then divide left->right



    http://www.purplemath.com/modules/orderops.htm

    :o I'll just put my hat back on and go stand in my corner again.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,419 ✭✭✭Cool Mo D


    It's only a riddle if you can't remember primary school maths. Brackets first, then multiplication, then division. There is more than one division, then go left to right, giving 0.6.


  • Registered Users Posts: 331 ✭✭MJRS


    I thought multiplication and division were equal priority so you just do left to right? Hence the acronym being BOMDAS or BODMAS, both are valid. Isn't this one of loads of maths problems with two provable correct answers?

    Got this from the ever reliable wiki "These mnemonics may be misleading,
    especially if the user is not aware that
    multiplication and division are of equal
    precedence, as are addition and subtraction."


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,751 ✭✭✭Saila


    answer = 0.6


  • Registered Users Posts: 750 ✭✭✭onlyrocknroll


    0.6

    Didn't your teacher teach you about BOMDAS?

    edit; oops missed MJRS's post


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,412 ✭✭✭randombar


    Back in my day it was BOMDAS!!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,441 ✭✭✭davetherave


    youve lost me lads

    Maybe you should have stayed in school?? :o ....sorry

    It's 0.6.

    30÷2(2+3)÷5 brackets first
    30÷2(5)÷5 then multiplication
    30÷10÷5 then division left to right
    3÷5
    0.6


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,817 ✭✭✭✭28064212


    It's 15. The only way it could be 0.6 is if you redefine 5(2+3) to mean (5 * (2+3)) instead of 5 * (2+3). Bracket notation for multiplication is just shorthand, it doesn't change the precedence.

    30÷2(2+3)÷5
    = 30÷2(5)÷5
    = 30÷2*5÷5 (÷ and * have equal precedence and are left-associative, so you do them left-to-right)
    = 15*5÷5
    = 75÷5
    = 15

    The bolded part is where most people make their mistake. "Brackets first" means you calculate what is inside the brackets first. when brackets are used for multiplication it is just shorthand for *.

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  • Registered Users Posts: 750 ✭✭✭onlyrocknroll


    28064212 wrote: »
    It's 15. The only way it could be 0.6 is if you redefine 5(2+3) to mean (5 * (2+3)) instead of 5 * (2+3). Bracket notation for multiplication is just shorthand, it doesn't change the precedence.

    30÷2(2+3)÷5
    = 30÷2(5)÷5
    = 30÷2*5÷5 (÷ and * have equal precedence and are left-associative, so you do them left-to-right)
    = 15*5÷5
    = 75÷5
    = 15

    The bolded part is where most people make their mistake. "Brackets first" means you calculate what is inside the brackets first. when brackets are used for multiplication it is just shorthand for *.

    Damn you, I thought I was right and now I'm confused.

    Why have you forsaken me BOMDAS? :(


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,372 ✭✭✭im invisible


    i dont know, maybe ask in the maths forum?:confused:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 39,603 ✭✭✭✭Mellor


    JBnaglfar wrote: »
    ^^ I got that at first.

    If you want to get 15 you can.

    2(2+3) divided by 5 = 2
    30 divided by 2 = 15.

    This is basically asking 30 divided by 10 divided by 5, and I didn't think maths necessarily went from left to right.

    Edit: google suggests .6 is correct
    link
    no it doesn't

    http://www.google.ie/search?rlz=1C1DVCP_enIE394IE394&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=30+divided+by+10+divided+by+5#sclient=psy&hl=en&rlz=1C1DVCP_enIE394IE394&source=hp&q=30%C3%B72(2%2B3)%C3%B75&aq=&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=9838aa61b26af9a1&biw=1312&bih=560
    Cool Mo D wrote: »
    It's only a riddle if you can't remember primary school maths. Brackets first, then multiplication, then division. There is more than one division, then go left to right, giving 0.6.
    Maybe you should have stayed in school?? :o ....sorry
    It's 0.6.

    30÷2(2+3)÷5 brackets first
    30÷2(5)÷5 then multiplication
    30÷10÷5 then division left to right
    3÷5
    0.6

    LMFAO

    Trying to be condesending and end up looking like a fool
    You should probably go back to school your self guys

    30÷2(2+3)÷5............so brackets first
    30÷2(5)÷5................2(5) is a shorthand way of writing 2x5, so lets change that so you don't get confused
    30÷2x5÷5..................Multiplication and division arecomplimentary so the order doesn't matter

    30x5÷5÷2
    30÷5÷2x5 etc all equal 15


    Anybody that is getting .6 is obviously dividing 30 by 10
    That's the same as dividing by both 2 and 5. Which is obviously wrong as their is no ÷ before the 5.
    For that to be the case it would have to read

    30÷(2(2+3))÷5 or 30÷2÷(2+3)÷5


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,139 ✭✭✭martineatworld


    I don't know why anyone is being condescending tbh.

    According to Mellor's link, Google is putting in an extra pair of brackets to come up with that answer. There's an ambiguity about the structure of the question that leads me to believe that both answers are valid

    Which leads to petty squabbles on the internet about who's right given there are two valid ways.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,817 ✭✭✭✭28064212


    I don't know why anyone is being condescending tbh.

    According to Mellor's link, Google is putting in an extra pair of brackets to come up with that answer. There's an ambiguity about the structure of the question that leads me to believe that both answers are valid

    Which leads to petty squabbles on the internet about who's right given there are two valid ways.
    Google puts in brackets for clarification, it doesn't change the precedence. Put in 6 - 2 * 3 and it will "change" it to 6 - (2 * 3).

    The only way there's ambiguity is if you change 2(5) to mean something different to 2 * 5

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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 39,603 ✭✭✭✭Mellor


    There is only something ambiguous if you make a mistake


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 709 ✭✭✭ClutchIt


    The question is broken really. Even though there is a correct way of doing it, anyone who writes an equation in that fashion is an ignoramus


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,917 ✭✭✭✭GT_TDI_150


    What is 30÷2(2+3)÷5

    Is it 15?

    or 0.6?
    ...
    Or is this question broken?

    just saw this,

    I thought you first caclulate whats in the brackets -> (2+3) = 5
    then you multiply it by 2 -> 2(5)=10
    then the 2 divisions are dont in the order they appear sp first 30/10=3
    then 3/5=.6

    could be well wrong


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,817 ✭✭✭✭28064212


    Work from left to right, breaking the equation into sections (and using BOMDAS as your guide).

    The answer is 0.6
    Only if you ignore precedence and associativity rules. You do not multiply 2(5) before dividing 30 by 2. The "B" in BOMDAS only refers to operations inside brackets. 2(5) is just shorthand for 2 * 5, and 30 ÷ 2 * 5 ÷ 5 is 15

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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,405 ✭✭✭RHunce


    MJRS wrote: »
    I thought multiplication and division were equal priority so you just do left to right? Hence the acronym being BOMDAS or BODMAS, both are valid. Isn't this one of loads of maths problems with two provable correct answers?

    Got this from the ever reliable wiki "These mnemonics may be misleading,
    especially if the user is not aware that
    multiplication and division are of equal
    precedence, as are addition and subtraction."

    What about BIRDMAS brackets, indices, roots, division, multiplication, addition and subtraction? Same answer anyway
    What is

    Is it 15?

    or 0.6?
    ...
    Or is this question broken?

    30÷2(2+3)÷5

    30÷(2)(5)÷5

    (30÷10)÷5

    3÷5 = .6


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 732 ✭✭✭Kadongy


    1290616506315.jpg
    This is true for a pixel representation of a circle (but not for an actual circle of course).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 39,603 ✭✭✭✭Mellor


    ClutchIt wrote: »
    The question is broken really. Even though there is a correct way of doing it, anyone who writes an equation in that fashion is an ignoramus
    nobody would write an quetion that way, the whole purpose of writing it that way is to confuse people with a weak understanding
    RHunce wrote: »
    What about BIRDMAS brackets, indices, roots, division, multiplication, addition and subtraction? Same answer anyway

    30÷(2)(5)÷5

    (30÷10)÷5

    You realise that you can't get from to (30÷10)÷5
    You just applied the division sign to the first 5, which is retarded.
    You can't multiply 2 inside the brackets when there is a ÷ sign before it. Only + or -

    30÷(2)(5)÷5
    15(5)÷5

    I imagine you can finish from there:rolleyes:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,405 ✭✭✭RHunce


    Mellor wrote: »
    You realise that you can't get from to (30÷10)÷5
    You just applied the division sign to the first 5, which is retarded.
    You can't multiply 2 inside the brackets when there is a ÷ sign before it. Only + or -

    30÷(2)(5)÷5
    15(5)÷5

    I imagine you can finish from there:rolleyes:

    My B2 in Honours Maths says otherwise :pac:


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,817 ✭✭✭✭28064212


    RHunce wrote: »
    30÷2(2+3)÷5

    30÷(2)(5)÷5

    (30÷10)÷5

    3÷5 = .6
    Why are you multiplying (2)(5) first? How is 30÷(2)(5)÷5 any different to 30÷2*5÷5?

    Again, brackets precedence only applies to operations inside the brackets

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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 818 ✭✭✭Triangla


    Typed equation exactly as typed into my scientific calculator, answer is 0.6.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,483 ✭✭✭ManFromAtlantis


    RHunce wrote: »
    My B2 in Honours Maths says otherwise :pac:

    what would a B2 be worth when maths was maths in the 70's or 80's ?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,405 ✭✭✭RHunce


    Still maths pal, I'm not doing that project maths ****e, don't be bitter because you did OL


  • Registered Users Posts: 750 ✭✭✭onlyrocknroll


    Wow the standard of this debate has really nosedived.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,817 ✭✭✭✭28064212


    RHunce wrote: »
    Still maths pal, I'm not doing that project maths ****e, don't be bitter because you did OL
    But you're wrong. The answer is 15. Go back and read the thread

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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 39,603 ✭✭✭✭Mellor


    RHunce wrote: »
    My B2 in Honours Maths says otherwise :pac:
    LMFAO

    Maybe if you knew what you were doing you would of goten an A2, like i did :cool:
    Triangla wrote: »
    Typed equation exactly as typed into my scientific calculator, answer is 0.6.

    I'm not going to be so silly as to say the calculator is wrong, but I guarantee you that you typed it in wrong.
    It's a well know problem, its exists in many forms.


  • Registered Users Posts: 750 ✭✭✭onlyrocknroll


    Mellor wrote: »
    LMFAO

    Maybe if you knew what you were doing you would of goten an A2, like i did :cool:



    I'm not going to be so silly as to say the calculator is wrong, but I guarantee you that you typed it in wrong.
    It's a well know problem, its exists in many forms.

    Mellor can you please post a link that explains why your way is correct and the other is wrong. I was sure it was 15 at first until I was convinced otherwise, now it's annoying me.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,817 ✭✭✭✭28064212


    Mellor can you please post a link that explains why your way is correct and the other is wrong. I was sure it was 15 at first until I was convinced otherwise, now it's annoying me.
    What parts of these posts don't you understand?
    28064212 wrote: »
    It's 15. The only way it could be 0.6 is if you redefine 5(2+3) to mean (5 * (2+3)) instead of 5 * (2+3). Bracket notation for multiplication is just shorthand, it doesn't change the precedence.

    30÷2(2+3)÷5
    = 30÷2(5)÷5
    = 30÷2*5÷5 (÷ and * have equal precedence and are left-associative, so you do them left-to-right)
    = 15*5÷5
    = 75÷5
    = 15

    The bolded part is where most people make their mistake. "Brackets first" means you calculate what is inside the brackets first. when brackets are used for multiplication it is just shorthand for *.
    28064212 wrote: »
    Google puts in brackets for clarification, it doesn't change the precedence. Put in 6 - 2 * 3 and it will "change" it to 6 - (2 * 3).

    The only way there's ambiguity is if you change 2(5) to mean something different to 2 * 5
    28064212 wrote: »
    Only if you ignore precedence and associativity rules. You do not multiply 2(5) before dividing 30 by 2. The "B" in BOMDAS only refers to operations inside brackets. 2(5) is just shorthand for 2 * 5, and 30 ÷ 2 * 5 ÷ 5 is 15
    28064212 wrote: »
    Why are you multiplying (2)(5) first? How is 30÷(2)(5)÷5 any different to 30÷2*5÷5?

    Again, brackets precedence only applies to operations inside the brackets

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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 818 ✭✭✭Triangla




  • Registered Users Posts: 750 ✭✭✭onlyrocknroll


    28064212 wrote: »
    What parts of these posts don't you understand?

    I understand all these posts. However they are just people stated what rules they followed, rather than providing any evidence that these are the correct rules.

    Can you direct me somewhere where I can read an explanation of how to solve this correctly please.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,817 ✭✭✭✭28064212


    I understand all these posts. However they are just people stated what rules they followed, rather than providing any evidence that these are the correct rules.

    Can you direct me somewhere where I can read an explanation of how to solve this correctly please.
    Order of operations => Do what's inside the brackets first. All the other operations are of equal precedence (multiplication and division), so we look at...
    Operator associativity => multiplication and division are both left-associative, so are performed from left-to-right

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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 39,603 ✭✭✭✭Mellor


    I understand all these posts. However they are just people stated what rules they followed, rather than providing any evidence that these are the correct rules.

    Can you direct me somewhere where I can read an explanation of how to solve this correctly please.

    But anybody getting 0.6 isn't following the rules, they are bringing ÷2 inside the brackets. nowhere rules has been posted that allows that.

    30÷2(2+3)÷5 so we all agree that ÷5 is at the end and the 2+3 = 5, so this is the part that is confsuing people

    30÷2(5)

    What people are doing is multiplying ÷2 by 5 and getting ÷10 which is wrong. If it said ÷(2(5)) it wouls be fine but it doesn't, the ÷ sign is fixed to the 2

    ÷2(5) = ÷2x5 = x5÷2 = x2.5

    or

    ÷2 is the same as x(1/2) or x(.5), (.5)x(5)= x2.5


    Triangla - That's interesting.
    A google search suggests thats it not unheards of, casio calculators gettign confused. Apparently it's due to a built in coding to solve multiplication implied by brackets first. a rule that doesn't exist (its just the way people write) unless you believe 2(5) is different to 2x5,
    I imagine if you put a x sign before the bracket it returns 15. I hope we all agree that there is no difference.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 39,603 ✭✭✭✭Mellor


    Another one I've seen is

    6÷2(1+2)

    Again, you can see the same structure. The brackets draw you attention to the right, where you end up with 6÷2(3) and get 1

    But it's wrong. 6÷2(3) is just shorthand. It should be re-written as 6÷2x3

    It's written in a confusing way on purpose. It should never have been like that to begin with


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,115 ✭✭✭magicianz


    Its clearly 8.1.....

    Thirty \ 4 + 3 \ 5

    7.5 + .6

    8.1 simples :)

    :3


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