 |
| ||
| |||
|
| Math Central | Quandaries & Queries |
|
Question from Jeannine, a teacher: What is 20 and 3/5 of 10? Question is written exactly this way. |
Hi Jeannine,
I find this question very disturbing. Mathematical language and notation should be used to make a statement clear and unambiguous but this looks to me to be an attempt to be confusing. I expect that you are to read and as plus and of as multiplication so the question becomes
What is $20 + \frac35 \times 10?$
An then, since multiplication takes precedence over addition this becomes
What is $20 + \left( \frac35 \times 10 \right)?$
Penny
| ||
| ||
| ||
 |
 |
|
|
||
Math Central is supported by the University of Regina and the Imperial Oil Foundation.