Math Rule: PEMDAS PEMDAS might not be what you think it is, its not really in that sequence. It should be interpreted as PE|MD|AS|. Tell you why... Parentheses should always be first to be evaluated followed by the constant with an exponent. Then it gets confusing for the next part, but not actually confusing. It should be remembered that Multiplication and Division should always be the first operations to be evaluated followed by the other two, namely Addition and Subtraction. Its not necessarily mean Multiplication should be the first operation and followed by Division, thats not how it works, it depends on the expression or equation. Multiplication is not always the first to be evaluated. For example: 8 / 4 + 1 x 2 - 3 Solution: = 2 + 1 x 2 - 3 = 2 + 2 - 3 = 4 - 3 = 1 You can see that the division came first to be evaluated, why is that? Its because it follows another law. The MD in PEMDAS doesnt necessarily mean the sequence that should be followed , it could be DM depending on the expression or equation. They occur from left to right of the expression or equation. Parentheses come first then Exponents, then Multiplication IF the equation or expression has the multiplication occurring firstly from left to right, if the division comes first before the multiplication , the division should be evaluated first. This situation is the same to AS in PEMDAS. It doesnt necessarily means that Addition should ALWAYS be evaluated first, it depends on the expression or equation, just like what I said earlier. If the subtraction came first , then evaluate it first. But remember MD ALWAYS comes first before AS. Thus, the suggestion of interpreting PEMDAS as PE|MD|AS.
Posted on: Mon, 14 Apr 2014 03:16:48 +0000
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