this post was submitted on 12 Dec 2023
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submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
 

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 :)

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (2 children)

It would be better if we just taught math with prefix or postfix notation, as it removes the ambiguity.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Ambiguity is fine. It would tedious to the point of distraction to enforce writing math without ambiguity. You make note of conventions and you are meant to realize that is just a convention. I'm amazed at the people who are planting their feet to fight for something that what they were taught in third grade as if the world stopped there.

You're right though. We should definitely teach different conventions. But then what would facebook do for engagement?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

enforce writing math without ambiguity

It already is written without ambiguity.

were taught in third grade

This is actually taught in Year 7 - the people who only remember the 3rd Grade version of the rules are the ones getting it wrong.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

There isn't ambiguity to begin with - just people who have forgotten the rules of Maths.