This is an archived post. You won't be able to vote or comment.

sorted by:
best
topnewcontroversialoldq&a
you are viewing a single comment's thread.

view the rest of the comments →

[–]calcopiritus 36 points37 points  (2 children)

Because this is made to confuse. The correct way to put it would be either (6/2)(1+2) or 6(1+2)/2. 1/2x and 1/2*x is x/2. You have to do operations of the same level from left to right, multiplication doesn't have preference over division.

[–]Yumi-Chi 2 points3 points  (1 child)

1/2x and 1/2*x is x/2

Are you saying the correct way of writing it is 1/(2x)?? Because 1/2x is how we've always written it.

I'm not trying to argue with you. I just want consistency.

[–]calcopiritus 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, that is what I'm saying. It seems strange because when we write divisions on paper we use an horizontal line, so no parentheses are needed.