196

16574 readers

1933 users here now

Be sure to follow the rule before you head out.

Rule: You must post before you leave.

^other^ ^rules^

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

421

Glitch in the matrix (ani.social)

submitted 11 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

575 comments fedilink hide all child comments

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

Are you for real?

Yes, I'm a Maths teacher.

A fraction is a shorthand for division with stronger (and therefore less ambiguous) order of operations

I added emphasis to where you nearly had it.

½ is a single term. 1÷2 is 2 terms. Terms are separated by operators (division in this case) and joined by grouping symbols (fraction bars, brackets).

1÷½=2

1÷1÷2=½ (must be done left to right)

Thus 1÷2 and ½ aren't the same thing (they are equal in simple cases, but not the same thing), but ½ and (1÷2) are the same thing.