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Order of operations
Mathematical operations follow rules of precedence, that is
- 1. Exponentiation and root extraction
- 2. Multiplication and division
- 3. Addition and subtraction
A calculator also works according to these rules.
Explanation
The rules have been laid down by mathematicians to avoid confusion. They have no special meaning, but are well choosen. And you have to stick to them if you want to join the rest of the world.
Example 1
The rules force a particular syntax, such as in
and so it is not
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Sometimes it has advantages to use parentheses, if only for readability, because at
all is clear.
Example 2
In the calculation of
you must first perform the exponentiation, and only then take the square root. Thus
is completely wrong. The parentheses must be solved from inside to outside, so
HistoryNothing is said about the use of parentheses, which play a special role. |