• Vagabond@kbin.social
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    11 months ago

    Ah sorry just realized what you were saying. I’ve never been taught that. Maybe it’s just a difference in teaching styles, but it shouldn’t be since it can actually change the outcome. The way I was always taught was if you see a number butted up against an expression in parentheses you assume there is a multiplication symbol there.

    So you were taught that 2(2+2) == (2(2+2))
    I was taught 2(2+2)==2*(2+2)

    Interesting difference though because again, assuming invisible parentheses can really change up how a problem is done.

    Edit: looks like theshatterstone54’s comment assumed a multiplication symbol as well.

    • if you see a number butted up against an expression in parentheses you assume there is a multiplication symbol there

      No, it means it’s a Term (product). If a=2 and b=3, then axb=2x3, but ab=6.

      I was taught 2(2+2)==2*(2+2)

      2(2+2)==(2*(2+2)). More precisely, The Distributive Law says that 2(2+2)=(2x2+2x2).