What is the answer to this mathematics equation

[Lindley]

Perhaps in this context a colon would have been a better idea.

EDIT: Ninja'd.

 

[RoJoHen]

EDIT: Ninja'd.

 

[Jadzia]

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.

I have a feeling that hidden symbol is what this problem is really about. ie, testing observation. It's similar to the questions that start "how many times does the letter f appear in the following sentence...", and most readers will only see half of them.

I'll admit I didn't see the hidden - sign at first glance either, nor did I count the 1s, because I just saw the options 0 or 14, and just assumed there were 14 1s in there.


I was going to say 14, but then I saw the various other answers in this thread and thought I should give it a closer look.

 

[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.

I have a feeling that hidden symbol is what this problem is really about. ie, testing observation. It's similar to the questions that start "how many times does the letter f appear in the following sentence...", and most readers will only see half of them.

Either way, the answer is still 14.

 

[Jadzia]

Either 12 or 14. Only Elim can tell us whether the leading symbol is part of the expression or not.

 

[DarthTom]

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?

The trick with this question is most people would place the addition portion of the problem in parenthesis and the multiplication part outside the parenthesis in which case the solution would be zero.

In our excel trained world of solving math problems today I think many of us [including myself] are guilty of solving or placing math computational problems in a format easier for excel to recognize and the for the reader looking at the column or row to identify. As a result our brain puts the parenthesis in even though none exists and forgets about the rules of multiplication and addition.

 

[RoJoHen]

In our excel trained world of solving math problems

I had no idea we lived in such a world. I don't anybody who uses Excel to do math.

 

[DarthTom]

I had no idea we lived in such a world. I don't anybody who uses Excel to do math.

In business, Excel is typically used to solve repetitive and redundant math problems in devising reports or programs.

I wasn't talking about someone who's an engineer or a scientist. But rather someone who cranks out addition/subtraction/multiplication as part of a complex and ongoing reporting process, usually along hundreds or even thousands of columns and/or rows.

 

[RoJoHen]

I wasn't talking about someone who's an engineer or a scientist. But rather someone who cranks out addition/subtraction/multiplication as part of a complex and ongoing reporting process, usually along hundreds or even thousands of columns and/or rows.

I don't anybody like that either.

I live in a world where people work in customer service.

 

[DarthTom]

I live in a world where people work in customer service.

Then you probably aren't multiplying by zero either.

edited to add: anyway I was just taking a guess why people might choose zero versus 14.

 

[SmoothieX]

In our excel trained world of solving math problems

I had no idea we lived in such a world. I don't anybody who uses Excel to do math.

You need to get out more in that case. Excel, at its simplest, is a child's toy for adding numbers, but can be used for some powerful and time saving calculations. The VB programming is also very helpful. Makes my 3-4 hour statistics assignments this term take all of a half an hour.

 

[RoJoHen]

In our excel trained world of solving math problems

I had no idea we lived in such a world. I don't anybody who uses Excel to do math.

You need to get out more in that case. Excel, at its simplest, is a child's toy for adding numbers, but can be used for some powerful and time saving calculations. The VB programming is also very helpful. Makes my 3-4 hour statistics assignments this term take all of a half an hour.

You assume I know people who have any reason to do math on a regular basis. I do not know such people.

I know what Excel can be used for, but I don't know many people who need it.

 

[M'Sharak]

Either 12 or 14. Only Elim can tell us whether the leading symbol is part of the expression or not.

It's not. Copy/pasting from the Facebook thing gets you this:

1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1-1+1+1+1+1+1+1x0 =?

No leading symbol.

 

[Roland Deschain]

Its troll maths, given the 3 pages dedicated to a badly written statement that much is apparent.