• AbidanYre@lemmy.world
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    14 hours ago

    But +, -, *, and / are all binary operators?

    As far as I know, the only reason multiplication and division come first is that we’ve all agreed to it. But it can’t be derived in a vacuum as that other dude contends it should be.

    • 💡𝚂𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗆𝖺𝗇 𝙰𝗉𝗉𝗌📱@programming.dev
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      8 hours ago

      But +, -, *, and / are all binary operators?

      No, only multiply and divide are. 2+3 is really +2+3, but we don’t write the first plus usually (on the other hand we do always write the minus if it starts with one).

      As far as I know, the only reason multiplication and division come first is that we’ve all agreed to it.

      No, they come first because you get wrong answers if you don’t do them first. e.g. 2+3x4=14, not 20. All the rules of Maths exist to make sure you get correct answers. Multiplication is defined as repeated addition - 3x4=3+3+3+3 - hence wrong answers if you do the addition first (just changed the multiplicand, and hence the answer). Ditto for exponents, which are defined as repeated multiplication, a^2=(axa). Order of operations is the process of reducing everything down to adds and subtracts on a number line. 3^2=3x3=3+3+3

        • Very confidently getting basic facts wrong doesn’t inspire confidence in the rest of your comments.

          …says person quoting Wikipedia and NOT a Maths textbook! 😂

          Your example still doesn’t give a reason why 2 + 3 * 4 is 2 + 3 + 3 + 3 +3

          Yes it does., need to work on your comprehension…

          Multiplication is defined as repeated addition - 3x4=3+3+3+3

          other than that we all agree to it

          You can disagree as much as you want and 3x4 will still be defined as 3+3+3+3. It’s been that way ever since Multiplication was invented.

          • AbidanYre@lemmy.world
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            4 hours ago

            The arithmetic operations, addition + , subtraction − , multiplication × , and division ÷

            That better? Or you can find one you like all by yourself: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=binary+operator&ko=-1&ia=web

            Yes it does., need to work on your comprehension…

            And you can shove the condescension up your ass until you understand the difference between unary and binary operators.

            But to original point. I’m not disagreeing with anything and you’re proving my point for me. There is no fundamental law of the universe that says multiplication comes first. It’s defined by man and agreed to. If we encounter aliens someday, the area of their triangles are still going to be half the width times the height, the ratios of their circles circumference to diameter are still going to be pi, regardless of how they represent those values. But they could very well prioritize addition and subtraction over multiplication and division.

            • That better?

              Is it a Maths textbook?

              Or you can find one you like all by yourself

              I already have dozens of Maths textbooks thanks.

              And you can shove the condescension up your ass until you understand the difference between unary and binary operators

              It’s not me who doesn’t understand the difference.

              you’re proving my point for me.

              Still need to work on your comprehension then. I did nothing of the sort.

              There is no fundamental law of the universe that says multiplication comes first.

              Yes there is. The fact that it’s defined as repeated addition. You don’t do it first, you get wrong answers.

              It’s defined by man and agreed to

              It’s been defined and man has no choice but to agree with the consequences of the definition, or you get wrong answers.

              But they could very well prioritize addition and subtraction over multiplication and division

              No they couldn’t. It gives wrong answers.

              • AbidanYre@lemmy.world
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                4 hours ago

                Actually, it is. Written by a PhD and used in a college course. It just happens to be distributed for free because Canada is cool like that.

                The LibreTexts libraries are Powered by NICE CXone Expert and are supported by the Department of Education Open Textbook Pilot Project, the UC Davis Office of the Provost, the UC Davis Library, the California State University Affordable Learning Solutions Program

                May want to work on your own reading comprehension.

                It’s not me who doesn’t understand the difference.

                The facts disagree.

                You can keep saying defined all you want, it doesn’t change the underlying issue that it’s defined by man. In the absence of all your books (which you clearly don’t understand anyway based on our discussion of unary vs binary) order of operations only exists because we all agree to it.

                • Actually, it is. Written by a PhD and used in a college course.

                  Yeah there’s an issue with them having forgotten the basic rules, since they don’t actually teach them (except in a remedial way). Why do you think I keep trying to bring you back to actual Maths textbooks?

                  May want to work on your own reading comprehension.

                  Nope. It’s still not a textbook. Sounds more like a higher education version of Wikipedia.

                  The facts disagree

                  With you, yes.

                  it doesn’t change the underlying issue that it’s defined by man.

                  The notation is, the rules aren’t.

                  In the absence of all your books (which you clearly don’t understand anyway based on our discussion of unary vs binary)

                  Says person who doesn’t understand the difference between unary and binary. Apparently EVERYTHING is binary according to you (and your website). 😂

                  order of operations only exists because we all agree to it

                  It exists whether we agree with it or not. Don’t obey it, get wrong answers.

                  • AbidanYre@lemmy.world
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                    19 minutes ago

                    Nope. It’s still not a textbook. Sounds more like a higher education version of Wikipedia.

                    It is though. Here’s a link to buy a printed copy: https://libretexts.org/bookstore/order?math-7309

                    You keep mentioning textbooks but haven’t actually shown any that support you. I have. I’ll trust the PhD teaching a university course on the subject over the nobody on the internet who just keeps saying “trust me bro” and then being condescending while also being embarrassingly wrong.

                    And because I can’t help it, I’ll also trust Wolfram over you: Examples of binary operation on A from A×A to A include addition (+), subtraction (-), multiplication (×) and division (÷). Here, you can buy a copy of this too: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1420072218/weisstein-20

                    Says person who doesn’t understand the difference between unary and binary.

                    Talking about yourself in the third person is weird. Even your nonsense about a silent “+” is really just leaving off the leading 0 in the equation 0+2. Because addition is a binary operator.

                    Apparently EVERYTHING is binary according to you (and your website). 😂

                    Only the ones that operate on two inputs. Some examples of unary operators are factorial, absolute value, and trig functions. The laughing face when you make a fool of yourself isn’t really as effective as you think it is.

                    But we’re getting off topic again. I can’t keep trying to explain the same thing to you, so I would say this has been fun, but it’s been more like talking to an unusually obnoxious brick wall. Next time you want to engage with someone try being less of a prick, or at least less wrong. You’re not nearly as smart as you seem to think you are.