https://zeta.one/viral-math/

I wrote a (very long) blog post about those viral math problems and am looking for feedback, especially from people who are not convinced that the problem is ambiguous.

It’s about a 30min read so thank you in advance if you really take the time to read it, but I think it’s worth it if you joined such discussions in the past, but I’m probably biased because I wrote it :)

  • 💡𝚂𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗆𝖺𝗇 𝙰𝗉𝗉𝗌📱@programming.devEnglish
    13·
    4 months ago

    Yes, the guy who should mind his own business.

    How about his reference for historical use

    Are you talking about his reference to Lennes’ letter? Lennes’ letter actually completely contradicts his claim that it ever meant anything different.

    Elizabeth Brown Davis

    Haven’t seen that one. Do you have a link?

    He also references a Slate article by

    …a journalist. The article ALSO ignores The Distributive Law and Terms.

    I wouldn’t disagree with that.

    Thank you. And also thank you for being the first person to engage in a proper conversation about it here.

    I’ve heard Presh respond to people in the past over questions like this

    I’ve seen him respond to people who agree with him. People who tell him he’s wrong he usually ignores. When he DOES respond to them he simply says “The Distributive Property doesn’t apply”. We’re talking about The Distributive LAW, NOT the Distributive Property. It’s called “law” for a reason. i.e. ALWAYS applies. I’ve only ever seen him completely unwilling to engage in any conversation with anyone who points out he’s wrong (contradicting his claim that he “welcomes debate”).

    I have a lot of respect for him

    Really?? Why’s that? I’m genuinely curious.

    I’ve never heard the variant where there was a clear change in 1917

    Me either. As far as I can tell it’s just people parroting his misinterpretation of Lennes’ letter.

    Instead, it seems there was historical vagueness until the rules we now accept were slowly consolidated

    I can’t agree with that. Lennes’ letter shows the same rules in 1917 as we use now. Cajori says the order of operations rules are at least 400 years old, and I have no reason to suspect they changed at all during that time period either. They’re all a natural consequence of the way we have defined the symbols in the first place.

    The Distributive Law obviously applies

    Again, thank you.

    I’m seeing references that would still assert that (6÷2) could at one time have been the portion multiplied with the (3)

    If it was written (6÷2)(1+2), absolutely that is the correct thing to do (expanding brackets), but not if it’s written 6÷2(1+2). If you mean the latter then I’ve never seen that - links?