What is the answer to this mathematics equation

[PlainSimpleJoel]

My cousin, I found this equation on facebook - 1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1-1+1+1+1+1+1+1x0. I posted the answer as 14 (as the multiplication is done first, as by the Order of Operations). But another person thought the answer was zero, and then tried to convince me the answer was zero. Sadly more people think the answer is 0, and not 14.

So what is your answer?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

14.

 

[{ Emilia }]

Well, 14 I guess?

I see that as 14 + (1 * 0). Just for clarification cause like you said: Order of Operations.

 

[jerriecan]

I was going to say 0 at first - but I had forgotten the Order of Operations. Been a very long time. So I'd say yes, 14 is the correct answer.

 

[Thestral]

Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally.

 

[RoJoHen]

Does that first 1 have a negative sign, or is that a dash?

I'm guessing the answer is 14.

 

[Kelthaz]

It's 14. Just enter it into a calculator and show this other person the result to convince them.

 

[Captain_Nick]

Order of operations says that it is 14, but the equation should have been written with brackets to make the author's intention absolutely clear.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Does that first 1 have a negative sign, or is that a dash?

Looks like a dash.

 

[RJDiogenes]

If it's a dash, the answer is 17. If it's a minus sign, the answer is 15.

 

[ElBurro]

It's zero. Multiplying anything by zero gives that answer (one of the few things I can actually remember from school lol). I even did it with a calculator and it came up with zero

 

[{ Emilia }]

It's zero. Multiplying anything by zero gives that answer (one of the few things I can actually remember from school lol). I even did it with a calculator and it came up with zero

Wrong, because you only multiply the last 1 by 0 and THEN you add the other 1's.

Multiplying is done first.

 

[TheGodBen]

It's zero. Multiplying anything by zero gives that answer (one of the few things I can actually remember from school lol). I even did it with a calculator and it came up with zero

Calculators follow the order by which you enter it, which would look like this:

((((((((((((((((1+1)+1)+1)+1)+1)+1)+1)+1)+1)-1)+1)+1)+1)+1)+1)+1)x0

In which case the answer would be 0. But if you program this equation into a programmable calculator it will give the answer 14, because that is the correct answer. For simplicity of use, the equation should look like this:

1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1-1+1+1+1+1+1+(1x0)

 

[SmoothieX]

^What he said. It's 14. If you do the order of ops, you end up with:

1+1+....+1+0 = 14

If it were (1+1...+1) * 0 you would get 0 since its commutative.

 

[Jadzia]

12

Computer says 12 too.


I should also point out that this is not a mathematical equation, but a mathematical predicate.

 

[RoJoHen]

12

Computer says 12 too.


I should also point out that this is not a mathematical equation, but a mathematical predicate.

You know, I don't think any of us saw that subtraction sign in the middle of the problem. I just assumed it was a string of addition symbols.

 

[Lindley]

It's 12 if you count that first dash as a minus sign, 14 if you treat it as punctuation. (Even counting the minus in the middle.)

 

[Chaos Descending]

EDIT: Nevermind. Too slow.

The leading "-" is punctuation, not subtraction/negation.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ It's not 12. The first dash is just a dash, it's not a negative symbol or anything like that.

It's just a punctuation mark - like this.

 

[RoJoHen]

^ It's not 12. The first dash is just a dash, it's not a negative symbol or anything like that.

It's just a punctuation mark - like this.

I probably would have used a colon.