Quote:
Originally Posted by WarChild
Sorry, the equation as it is written is ambigous, PERIOD. This is EXACTLY why Google is changing it. Try typing the formula in to excel, it will flat out tell you there's an error with it.
So as it is written, it can be solved as either 288 or 2.
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False. The equation is not ambiguous as implied multiplication takes precedent over explicit functions. Period.
Excel's limitations in formulas is due to the way that program is coded and requires formulas to be written. It has nothing to do with the way the equation is written. An attempt to formulate a explanation of ambiguity due to excel's limitations is flawed
Quote:
Originally Posted by WarChild
The problem is that it is not an agreed upon standard that implied multiplication outranks explicit. Well rather, that is ONE standard. Others consider multiplication to be multiplication regardless of how it's expressed and should be handled in order left to right.
The only REAL standard is that when there is doubt, use parenthesis. So yes, 48/(2*(9+3)) = 2 and if 2 is the answer you're looking for this is the proper way to write the equation on one line.
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It is an agreed upon standard that implied multiplication outranks explicit. THAT is the very nature of the use of implied multiplication - to eliminate the need for the double parentheses.