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Re: Order of operations (fwd)
Posted:
May 15, 1995 11:53 AM
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I don't think the point is that we should teach students different orders
of operations but to help them understand why we have such rules and why
we use the one we do today.
I don't understand why going right to left will eliminate the need for
parentheses. How would (x+2)(y+3) be done in such a rule?
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* Tad Watanabe *
* Dept. of Mathematics *
* Towson State University e-mail *
* Towson, MD 21204 tad@midget.towson.edu *
* (410) 830 - 3585 (410) 830 - 4149 FAX *
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On Mon, 15 May 1995, Amos Newcombe wrote:
>
> The computer language APL parses expressions from right to left and I think
> (but am not sure) that one of the benefits is no parentheses. Reverse
> Polish notation also eliminates parentheses. The problem with teaching any
> of these to students instead of the standard way is, how will they
> communicate with the rest of the world?
>
> Amos Newcombe | Voice (914) 339-0582 | The world's biggest fool
> CyberMath | Fax (914) 331-2697 | can say the sun is shining,
> Manor Lake #2 | Email: amos@cerf.net, | but that doesn't make it
> Kingston NY 12401 | 76324.3313@compuserve.com | dark out. -- Robert Pirsig
>
>
>
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