Just when I thought I was getting better at math...

[shadowkat]

This

Post by Power 95.3.

made me scratch my head.


7 + 7 divided by 7 +7 x7 -7.

The correct answer is apparently 50.

IF you do it this way: 7+7 =14 divided by 7 =2
2 +7 = 9, 9* 7 =63, 63-7 = 56.

If you do it by calculator = 56

If you do it by Excel = 50

Apparently it is supposed to be 7x7= 49 /7 = 1, then 1+7+7 -7 = 8.
Which still makes no sense. So, it must be = 7x7/7 =1, then 7+7+7 =21 +1
Still makes no sense. I remain puzzled.

This is why I hate math.

Comments

[flake-sake.livejournal.com]

Yep, science can be a different language at points. Once you know the vocabulary it's clear as day and leaves very little room for interpretation. But in the beginning it just looks insane.

It's the same for me and programming languages. I always have a phase, where I'm going half mad,trying to get their logic.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Law is similar - it's a whole different language, takes a while to get it down. I'm constantly interpreting it for people. Same with engineering, railroad or industry specific languages, and well net-speak. Not helped by the fact that words, phrases, numbers, and abbreviations have different meaning depending on which industry, field, or business you are working in.

For example?

ETA?

On the internet it means - edited to add. In business it means - Estimated Time of Arrival.

Or RFP? In business it means Request for Proposal. For some people - Red Frigging Print.

I've realized that when you are communicating with someone outside your field of expertise - you need to find a way to explain it in terms that make sense to them. It's not as easy to do as it sounds. It's to a degree what I've done for a living - explaining to the lay-man, what a lawyer, IT, engineer, or specialist are trying to say.
And of course most of these people think - "well it's obvious, everyone should get it. Or they should learn it. I shouldn't have to explain myself." Which results in miscommunication, and unnecessary tension. I think part of the problem - is it has become so obvious and so routine (they do it every day that it second nature to them), that it doesn't make sense that someone else doesn't see it or get it.

I'm training a guy at work, bright guy, who is a Russian immigrant and speaks English as a second language and came from a different industry and business. I have to realize that what is obvious to me, won't be to him. So I told him up front - there are no stupid questions. And I constantly remind myself to be patient. Not to make assumptions. It's hard.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Eh, sorry for all the typos. I've been trying to do this without my reading glasses, mainly because I'm still in denial. LOL!