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this is a little tricker than I'm used to for a skill testing question. Please help.

25+80-5/2*4

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In addition of being way too localized it is also not well defined. $(5/2)\times 4$ or $5\times (2/4)$? – Asaf Karagila Apr 12 '11 at 8:37
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I don't understand. In your profile you claim to be a "programmer", but then why would you be asking this? – Adrián Barquero Apr 12 '11 at 8:39
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See also Jonas Meyer's answer here – t.b. Apr 12 '11 at 8:43
@Adrián he claims to be a newbie programmer, so it's understandable. – Danny King Apr 12 '11 at 8:44

closed as too localized by Asaf Karagila, t.b., J. M., Akhil Mathew Apr 12 '11 at 12:36

This question is unlikely to help any future visitors; it is only relevant to a small geographic area, a specific moment in time, or an extraordinarily narrow situation that is not generally applicable to the worldwide audience of the internet. For help making this question more broadly applicable, see the FAQ.

2 Answers

up vote 1 down vote accepted

The order in which you do the calculations can be remembered using "BODMAS"

Always do arithmetic in the following order:

  • Evaluate any brakets
  • Do indicies (powers)
  • Do division and multiplication
  • Do addition and subtraction

It's explained well here:

http://www.mathsisfun.com/operation-order-bodmas.html

So for your example: 25+80-5/2*4

First divide 5 by 2, then multiply that by 4. Add 25 to 80 then take the result of the previous multiplication from this addition.

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Somehow I am accustomed to excusing my dear aunt, Sadie. – J. M. Apr 12 '11 at 11:13
up vote -1 down vote

$25+80-5/2*4=25 + 80 - ((5 / 2) * 4) = 95$

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