Simple maths question?

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layla22
Posts: 116
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2010 7:48 pm

Simple maths question?

Post by layla22 »

Can someone please help me with what appears to be a simple question
1. Work out 56-69+311

Doing 56-69 first as opposed to 69+311 first gives 2 different results.

My thinking is that in the absence of brackets and multiply. I should work from left to right, hence the answer would be 298.

Am I on the right track?

Many thanks
First-timer
Posts: 698
Joined: Wed Sep 23, 2009 1:47 pm
Location: Essex

Re: Simple maths question?

Post by First-timer »

Yes, work from left to right. There are no brackets and the operations ( add and subtract) are of the same status. Same applies to 6 ./. 3x2. The answer is 4 rather than 1.
999 mum
Posts: 422
Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2010 12:02 am

Re: Simple maths question?

Post by 999 mum »

layla22 wrote:1. Work out 56-69+311
I would think of it as (+56) and (-69) and (+311), then the order would not matter.

(The order does not matter as the two used are plus and minus and they are of the same priority)
hermanmunster
Posts: 12821
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 9:51 am
Location: The Seaside

Re: Simple maths question?

Post by hermanmunster »

agreed with 999mum - attach a +or - firmly to the front of the number and then it doesn't matter what order you do them in. eg
-69+56+311 would work too
mystery
Posts: 8927
Joined: Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:56 pm

Re: Simple maths question?

Post by mystery »

Layla22 how did you get 2 different answers? The answer is 298. The quickest way is to see there is a difference of 13 between the first two numbers and then take this off the third number.
layla22
Posts: 116
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2010 7:48 pm

Re: Simple maths question?

Post by layla22 »

Thank you everyone for your prompt replies.
How did I get 2 answers?? Well, ..... I made a fundamental error!!?!! _ I failed to read the minus sign infront of the 69!
I put it down to the stress of this past year and that we have a St Olave's test coming up.
That's my excuse anyway.
Thanks everyone
mystery
Posts: 8927
Joined: Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:56 pm

Re: Simple maths question?

Post by mystery »

:D That's exactly the sort of thing I would do in an exam!! It's also a bit like in all these threads talking about tutoring, I read torturing.
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