858
6÷2(1+2) (programming.dev)
submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by wischi@programming.dev to c/memes@lemmy.ml

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 :)

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] baggins@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 years ago

That's cool and Imma let you finish but I'm not a mathematician and the answer is 9.

[-] wischi@programming.dev 4 points 2 years ago

That's the correct answer if you follow one of the conventions. There are actually two conflicting but equally valid conventions. The blog explains the full story but this math problem is really ambiguous.

[-] baggins@lemmy.ca -5 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

I read it. And I'm not a mathematician, so the answer is 9.

E: The salty mathematicians down-voting this can get fucked lmfao

[-] wischi@programming.dev 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Ooh now I get you, sry. True. But sadly you now know the truth and you have to be careful with the implicit multiplications on your tax forms from now on ;-)

load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (2 replies)
this post was submitted on 12 Dec 2023
858 points (96.4% liked)

Memes

51431 readers
991 users here now

Rules:

  1. Be civil and nice.
  2. Try not to excessively repost, as a rule of thumb, wait at least 2 months to do it if you have to.

founded 6 years ago
MODERATORS