How do you solve this math problem?...

[Anima]

He's returning a division by zero error.

[platonicheart]

We encountered what we thought is a rather simple math problem...

10 + 10 x 0 =

And yet we've debated for hours how to solve this and I'm under the impression that 20 is the correct answer but the calculator says 0... something must be wrong with the calculator or something...

"POOF" (Disappears)

I could agree that the answer is twenty...*looks at my scientific calculator....snobs it*
I'm thinking of using powers of ten to solve the problem...

10 +10 x 10^0 ---> 10 +10 = 20

Though there could be infinite possibilities of what the answer could be

edit: I'm positive that the answer MAY BE is twenty

[Blue Lemma]

I'm thinking of using powers of ten to solve the problem...

10 +10 x 10^0 ---> 10 +10 = 20

Though there could be infinite possibilities of what the answer could be

edit: I'm positive that the answer MAY BE is twenty

I'm not sure where the 10^0 comes from since 10 x 0 ( = 0 ) is not equal to 10^0 ( = 1 ).

If we're assuming the standard mathematical order of operations, like you'd see on an algebra test, the answer is definitely 10. You have to multiply the 10 x 0 first before doing the addition:
10 + 10 x 0
=
10 + 0
=
10

If we're talking about a casual "enter this into your calculator as I say it" order (i.e. left-to-right) it's 0:
10 + 10 x 0
-->
20 x 0
-->
0 (this is wrong because it ignores the proper order of operations, which the original problem gives no indication we should do!)

And shame on you, PyTom - everyone knows RPN sucks!

[LVUER]

Don't worry though, Mugen. Even if you're trolling, I still love you ^_^ Love your game, I mean...

[platonicheart]

I'm thinking of using powers of ten to solve the problem...

10 +10 x 10^0 ---> 10 +10 = 20

Though there could be infinite possibilities of what the answer could be

edit: I'm positive that the answer MAY BE is twenty

I'm not sure where the 10^0 comes from since 10 x 0 ( = 0 ) is not equal to 10^0 ( = 1 ).

If we're assuming the standard mathematical order of operations, like you'd see on an algebra test, the answer is definitely 10. You have to multiply the 10 x 0 first before doing the addition:
10 + 10 x 0
=
10 + 0
=
10

If we're talking about a casual "enter this into your calculator as I say it" order (i.e. left-to-right) it's 0:
10 + 10 x 0
-->
20 x 0
-->
0 (this is wrong!)

And shame on you, PyTom - everyone knows RPN sucks!

Oh, yeah forgot about that....sulks in the corner
But I do agree that 0 is wrongsince there are no restrictions such as parenthesis

*gets a pad paper, gets a mechanical pencil, wears my eyeglasses...solving the problem

[Blue Lemma]

Haha, no worries, platonicheart ^^

Don't worry though, Mugen. Even if you're trolling, I still love you ^_^ Love your game, I mean...

You mean this is mugen? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cdiz0k0Rudw

[pondrthis]

That second one by Adorya is cute. Of particular interest is that [(-1)^(1/2)]^2 = -1 is not equal to [(-1)^2]^(1/2) = 1.

Gotta love complex numbers.

[platonicheart]

Another shot again

*With the use of my calculator
....plug, plug, plug....ta-dum! the answer is 10

*With the use of my braincells
tick tock tick tock *puts away my eyeglasses....ugh, still can't find the answer (I can't sleep if I can't solve this...I'll be solving it till I get an answer)

[Chrizine]

Ehm, well, blue lemma explained the answer in pretty much detail...? where is the riddle that you still try to solve? (can we help you?)

[Lumen_Astrum]

I really think the answer is 10... because PEMDAS said so xD
But if you don't put a parenthesis on it, and/or don't follow PEMDAS, yeah, it may have a different answer.

[Taleweaver]

But if you don't put a parenthesis on it, and/or don't follow PEMDAS, yeah, it may have a different answer.

If you don't follow PEMDAS, you're doing it wrong. There are no two different correct solutions to a math problem like that one. Any different answer to

10 + 10 x 0

than 10 is not "following a different calculation model", it's just plain wrong.

Aagh!

[pondrthis]

I think Lumen was saying "you may arrive at a different answer" rather than "there are different correct answers". Kinda like the Monty Hall problem, right? Even statisticians get that wrong sometimes.

For those interested:

Say you're on a variant of Let's Make A Deal. In one of three briefcases is $1M. The other two hold week-old milk (it's traditional to think up weird things for the bad choices... usually it's an old goat). The way the game works is you pick one of the three, and then from the remaining two the host reveals a briefcase full of milk. It is worth noting that whether you pick the correct briefcase or not, at least one of the remaining two will have milk in it.

Now... after revealing the milk, the host offers to swap briefcases with the unopened one. Do you keep your original choice, or take the swap? Does it matter?

The answer may surprise you.

[Kimiko]

That's easy. I'd swap because the chance of winning then is the 66,6%. ^-^

[pondrthis]

Whether or not that's right, if you don't show your work, no credit! Defend your position!

[Kimiko]

Well… let’s say, the player switches every time. Then there are three options:

1. If the player picks the $1M, the host will show one of the milk ones. The player changes his choice and loses.
2. If the player picks the milk, then the host will show the other milk. Then if the player changes his choice, he’ll win the $1M.
3. If the player picks the other milk, then the host will show the first milk. Then if the player changes his choice, he’ll win the $1M.

So, it’s true that if the player switches, then the player will win 1M two times out of three. (~ 66,6%)

Sorry for my bad english...