9 minus 3 divided by one third plus one equals

[Sir Henry]

I like the twist rate answer. The correct solution is ..... 1

But according to mathematical rules, multiplication and division occur before addition and subtraction and you always work from left to right. So:

3/0.333(1/3)=9
9-9-0
0+1=1

Correct answer but not for the reasons you stated. Keep trying.

[CT_Shooter]

But according to mathematical rules...

That could very well be my error. I'm not a mathematician and was not familiar with the precedence.

But, I do read. And what I read, in plain English, may not have agreed with mathematical rules.

How often I've been been stumbled by rules that are out of my familiar context!!

As a result, in my life, I've often been wrong when I've been confident that I was right. Now, I never say never. And I never say true is truth! It all depends on the rules.

Thanks for making it clear!

[Cofisher]

Look back a couple posts from mine. There is an answer of 1.8. I mistakenly read that as a 1 in 18" twist rate. As for my math, of course I used the same method you describe. I am a product of Catholic education in the 50s and 60s. Sister Mary Margaret would have been very disappointed in me if I did not get that correct.

[Sir Henry]

But according to mathematical rules...

That could very well be my error. I'm not a mathematician and was not familiar with the precedence.

But, I do read. And what I read, in plain English, may not have agreed with mathematical rules.

How often I've been been stumbled by rules that are out of my familiar context!!

As a result, in my life, I've often been wrong when I've been confident that I was right. Now, I never say never. And I never say true is truth! It all depends on the rules.

Thanks for making it clear!

This was a test in the 80's when most people did it by pencil and paper and 70% got it right. Recently it was done and only 40% got it right. The reason was they used a calculator. If you use a calculator you will get it wrong. We use the / now days as a symbol for divide. In the 80's it was presented the the old fashioned divide symble.

[RanchRoper]

Wow. I have the urge to skip class and go play my guitar. Deja vu.

[Sir Henry]

Wow. I have the urge to skip class and go play my guitar. Deja vu.

I don't need me no book learnin'.

[Jdl447]

.99099099099099

[steelersfan97]

0

[steelersfan97]

+1=1

[Henry88]

But according to mathematical rules, multiplication and division occur before addition and subtraction and you always work from left to right. So:

3/0.333(1/3)=9
9-9-0
0+1=1

Didn't remember these rules, and couldn't find quickly on Google, but yes.....

Without parenthesis to display the associative or distributive nature of the process, certain assumptions must be made.

3 divided by 1/3 equals 9; that we know.

now the question becomes, is it:

(9-9)+1=1

or 9-(9+1)=-1 which is an unjustified assumption, I would think.

So I don't see how White Squirrel went wrong, given the assumptions he was forced to make...............