bodmas blog

The formula above has to be written as a single line with brackets to ensure that the top line is calculated before the division, and that the square root function applies to the result.

√(((5.51 – 6)x² + (5.89 – 6)x² + (6.51 – 6)x²)/3) =

We spent an hour working over examples with recent Casio calculators and using a projected spreadsheet today.

The fraction bar notation used in textbooks has a logic for algebraic fractions because it emphasises the cancellation of common factors. It will take a time for the calculators to catch up fully with the traditional notation – perhaps there will be a compromise part way?

Does anyone remember executable notation and APL?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 8th, 2006 at 8/11/06 and is filed under Maths. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.