Macmillan Q77

[jaywhybee]

I'm no mathematician and fear my simple brain is not working properly on this question: Using a basic calculator, replace each of the question marks with either a plus, minus, multiplication or division sign (each used only once): 3?7?5?4?3=X. What is the highest possible total? Would some kind person put me out of my misery, please.

[cruciverbali]

Try plus, minus, divide, subtract

[cruciverbali]

Sorry, I mean plus, multiply, subtract, divide !

[smouse]

I've got a higher total than that I think but didnt save the working but will try to remember and get back to you

[Sonyme]

I usually follow the rule of multiply in front of the greatest no., divide in front of the smallest, plus in front of second highest then minus in front of last. When the question refers to calculator entries you ignore the rules of multiply and divide precede plus and minus also ignore bracketed rules

[candled]

My answer was 15.33 (as cruciverbali) too late for me to change now if smouse comes up with better,! had to post my quiz last night with 6 answers missing as I'm off on holiday..I really must try to arrange my holidays around my quiz return dates!!!!

[mohill]

You need to remember that when you have a row of numbers separated by mathematical signs plus, minus, multiply and divide replacing the ?, as you have shown, that you MUST perform the multiply and divide before you do the add and subtract.
So 3 plus 7 multiply 5 minus 4 divide 3
becomes 3 plus 35 minus one and one third
ie 38 minus one and one third
ie 36 and two thirds
I think, as crucibervali has suggested, that this is the highest solution
Cheers

[cruciverbali]

Although the order is the same, mohill, our methods are different (and therefore so are the totals) - your's requires the use of brackets, but the 'calculator method' does not allow this.

Cruciverbalist

[smouse]

Well I cant believe I am going to sit and do this again
I certainly have higher than 15.33 and I didnt use brackets and cant find the flipping bit of paper

[swannbaker]

If you go 3 divide by 7 plus 5 times 4 minus 3 , do you not get 18 and five sevenths ?

[swannbaker]

....... or better still plus 4 times 5 to give 22 and one seventh .......

[swannbaker]

Sorry 19 and one seventh .

[Jammydodgem]

Why don't you all keep going and give EVERY answer to this quiz away?

Just try doing it for youselves why don't you?

[jaywhybee]

Thank you to everyone for their comments. I'm still not sure which answer to plump for, guess I'll wait until I have to fill in the answer sheet ...

[keyboardix]

Message to Jammydodgem. If you dislike Answer Bank for the service that it provides, why do you trawl the answers so frequently to make snide remarks? As I have reminded you before, read the Answer Bank's opening page, and stop spoiling a friendly and helpful site.