maths problem

[rsvp]

have just seen this and would welcome thoughts from greater brains than mine!
4x4+4x4+4-4x4 = ?.......I got20 but has been a long time since I was at school.
My reasoning is .....
(4x4)+(4x4) = 32
32+4= 36
- (4x4) 16 therefore answer is 36-16 =20

Very happy to be proven wrong but would love to know why!!! thank you

[mike11111]

You see, Just what I mean! I was never taught such nonsense as that, move from left to right if there is equal priority. As I said much earlier in this thread, a few strategically placed brackets would resolve any ambiguity.

[tamborine]

my calculator says 320, no brackets on it

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

@Methyl
Does that mean that multiplication comes before division, but addition and subtraction should be left to right?
Or am I misunderstanding you?

[bfrazor]

lol joe, the absence of brackets dictates the correct answer of 20. no brackets? you still multiply and divide first. not sure where you went to school but we learned that in grade 6 here in canada.
you can get a wide range of answers putting brackets where ever you want but mathematical laws dont change when there are no brackets.

[rober]

I think that's wrong answer, it would be right only if the numbers was in quotes as you putting them in your answer, with other words you making breaks.
But as the question continuous with no any break till the one and last result, so I think you must to calculate any result you got with the number next to it like this:
4x4=16+4=20x4=80+4=84-4=80x4=320