75% Will Get This Fraction Problem WRONG!

How to do fraction problems.
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[@clintwalker7690]

Thank you. I am 52, and just love trying to keep a sharp mind. I got the right answer, but waited one more step to remove the subtraction.. I struggled with fractions, in junior high, before a great teacher made things crystal clear. Keep up the good work.

[@yasirriaz9455]

52 is not a big sum

[@robmartin5518]

yeah it is rarely the student and mostly the way it is taught.

[@chuckinhouston9952]

I’m 71 and I was drawn to this video because…..well, I can’t remember. Very well done. Good stuff.

[@paulmaxwell8851]

I have a post secondary education, a solid background in science and loads of mathematics experience. Yet I have never heard of PEMDAS! Somehow we were supposed to just 'know' the rules without any assistance like this. I can't believe this is new to me. Great series of videos, John. Subscribed!

[@pmw3839]

In the UK we were taught BODMAS (which is exactly the same).

[@bernym4047]

The clearest explanation of PEMDAS i have seen. Thank you.. An easy problem once that was explained.

[@ralph1bart]

These practice problems are great. These help me find out if I really know what I "think" I know. Thanks.

[@karenm8952]

I am 64 and ran into this while looking for something else, so took the challenge for fun. I excelled at algebra, trig and calculus (I skipped over geometry) at the University and once in a while do a little calculus for fun. I can't believe I got this wrong! Lol. I remember Order of Ops, and most fraction tricks, but I multiplied the last two fractions together before doing the division! Bzzzzt. So thanks for the fun refresher. I liked fractions and algebra, and even word problems, much to the dismay of my sister. Lol.

[@tombulasok51]

It should be. You did it right. His solution is error.

[@pmw3839]

@@tombulasok51. No. He is correct. Multiplication and Division have equal priority. That is where PEMDAS is misleading. It is a very common misunderstanding.

[@anneclark9508]

Thank you for explaining order of operations. Now I get it. God bless

[@maskedmarvyl4774]

Shame on our teachers for not doing a better job teaching it to us when we were kids.

[@hsi2020]

Divide first, left to right order Or you could just look at division as inverse multiplication

[@rodgerw3927]

From now on, l'll be less confused about PEMDAS. Thanks for this example

[@hellmouthisnogod1843]

Lack of using parenthesis! One should be clear in asking the question and avoid future confusion right away. I learned nothing about PEMDAS - not only for not being raised in an English speaking environment, there was no rule in my country that would correspond to that; I was taught that the division by a fraction is equivalent to the multiplication with the inverse fraction - so that is what I would do first after cancelling the 2 minus-signs in the factors, and then write the three fractions as one and, cancel first: -3/4 + 1*3*1/5*2*2 = -3/4 + 1*1*3/5*2*2 = - 3/4 +3/20 = -15/20 + 3/20 = -12/20 = -3*4/5*4 =- 3/5 - problem solved . And ... it would be illegal to put a multiplication sign in front of a "+" or "-" - parenthesis required. Maybe the rules have changed in the past 65 years since I am out of school?

[@rudyqualls]

Loved relearning. My HS teacher in the 60's taught while he was asleep. I struggled ever since. You are crystal clear. I want to master all of calculus and exponents, linear programming, simplex algorithms, geometry are you the best source for an older student a Renaissance man?

[@stevendeans4211]

Your never too old to learn to travel efficiently.

[@fatimapetersen2036]

Fatima. Hi. I'm 74. I love math. I did high school math till junior certificate. I got the sum right. But I used BODMAS

[@danielmadden9691]

Thanks for clarifying that John

[@richardyoungman3505]

Same here, did it in my head in 10-20 seconds. D and M are a tie and go L to R because they are one in the same. D can be switched to M and M to D by inverting.

[@lewistaylor1965]

I thought I'd be in the 75%...and that's the only thing I got right!

[@opinions1234]

I am 62, has been using calcuator and decimal for long time. thank you , it refresh my mind about fraction.

[@kalawatieroop9827]

I am still learning ,thank u soo much for this program

[@proffessorclueless]

Surely this is spemdas. Deal with the subtraction signs first. Change them to positive and negative then do parenthesis etc. Its not clear how to do negative square roots of plus or minus factorial numbers. Please clarify for me. Thanks

[@stevemurray-mo6qs]

Consider explaining this by drawing in parentheses to show the PEMDAS order of operations for the entire equation BEFORE resolving any fractions or performing the operations. The sequence would be to draw in parentheses for each exponentiation, multiplication, and division, THEN the equation. This example has no exponentiation, one division, and one multiplication working left to right so there needs to be two sets of parentheses: "3/4 - (1/5 / 2/3) * -1/2; then "3/4 - ((1/5 / 2/3) * -1/2)". Then solve each () set from inside out. No need to change a subtraction to an addition.

[@thumper88888]

One pair of parentheses, if any.

[@herkermit9872]

This is basic. It was a good explanation of PEDMAS. A set of parens would be a good example. I believe it is up to the individual as to whether it is easier to convert all subtraction to adding negatives, division to multiplying the inverse, or what may work best for the overall manipulation and obtain the correct answer. I would rather Add two Negative numbers. That is me- 15:39

[@gideonlapidus8996]

Love these problems

[@felixbrandt6419]

I am 168 years old and using a calculator since 1789. Having watched this video, I am over it. Thanks Pampaz!

[@Chazz]

I came up with - 3/10 doing it in my head. Of course, doing it in my head, I need help seeing where I made my mistake. I am 78 years old, and I'm amazed that I came close to getting the answer correct. I'm sure if I had taken the time to write it down, I would have come up with the correct answer. I like to work in my head. It's faster. In my life, I have taken hundreds of standardised tests (multiple choice). For the most part, I generally scored within the top 2%. At 78, it's been a long time, and I've gotten a little rusty. Thank you for the challenge.

[@robmartin5518]

That was a good one. A little bit challenging, but easy to do if you remember all the rules. I bet the people who got it wrong did multiplication first or didn't flip the second fraction and turn the division into multiplication. What you said about showing your work is very true. My old teacher wouldn't give any credit if you didn't take the extra steps such as showing your work, or leaving a fraction "top heavy" or not fully simplifying. (Basically that hard ass didn't give partial credit it was either 100% right or 100% wrong with him. So thanks for being light hearted about it)

[@spideraxis]

I got the order right but messed up in LCD. Or to put it another way, I got it wrong.

[@noneofyourbusiness7396]

-3/4 -3/10 x -1/2 -3/4 +3/20 -12 / 20 - 3/5 -0.6

[@michaelconnors8767]

55 years ago when I was in HS, PEMDAS was BOMDAS, with B for brackets and O for "of". Same rules just different terminology. Sadly, don't remember much more than that!!

[@pmw3839]

It’s BODMAS. And the “O” is for “Order” (exponents). “Of” = multiplication, which is already in the acronym.

[@Geoff_G]

Got it right doing it in my head in about 20s.

[@SeattlePioneer]

> Show off! Got it right in about 5 minutes working on paper.

[@trfflyboy]

Yeah........and I'm the Easter Bunny

[@steveosborne2297]

@@trfflyboy Sorry , it took me about 20 to 30 seconds doing it in my head to get it right

[@musicsansnotes]

I would clearly not be in your class. Lol

[@jmack619]

Got it right , just looking at it. I looked at it, and said, would you look at that !

[@conradoperdiguerra7242]

Do you have a book that covers starting from pre-algebra to integral calculus. I would buy 1. Please illustrate problems and solutions.

[@johnplong3644]

There is a lot of things you have to know how to Do You have to know how to add subtract multiple and divide fractions You need to know how to multiply and divide positive and negative numbers you need to know how to find LCD Lastly you need to know the order of operations You MUST know all of this to get the correct answer If a mistake is made by showing your work you can see where you went wrong.This problem requires you to know all these skills This is a great problem oh you also need to know how to reduce to lowest terms ..-3/5

[@craigcothren6629]

Division, multiplication, subtraction, addition.

[@antichrist_revealed]

If I'm down 3 quarters, after I downed a fifth, it means just over half the day is wasted, or about two thirds of it, and the other half will not be enough time for me to get on my way. Therefore the answer is two (1+1), as it will take another day to finish the job and get on my way.

[@Eric_Johannson]

-3/5 was my guess. I typed that my guess in and then watched the video. He had me convinced a number times that I had screwed up something.

[@jeanmorin9095]

Ho! How humiliating this has been... Never remembered ever having learned something like PEMDAS and of course prioritized the Add/Subs over Mult/Div. Thank you for a great re-learn.

[@Kolopsych]

Considering the ordering, should it be pronounced pemd-as, rather than pem-das? By the latter, you're misled into not grouping MD

[@bobcarn]

I'm 63 and am very much enjoying flexing my old math skills. This is great!

[@maskedmarvyl4774]

-3/5. I learned more from this 15 minute video than I did from my entire 11th grade algebra class. Because my teacher was an idiot.

[@semmes5342]

at 63 I forgot a few rules so thanks helping me keep my mind sharp

[@KW-gb9cd]

Negative three-fifths (-3/5)

[@damnhandy]

What is the square root of 69? Ate-something

[@antonypearse]

Why at the beginning does the 1/5 become a negative. Surely the question is to subtract positive 1/5 or it would be written minus negative 1/5 or - - 1/5. Doesn't make sense. Incidently I got the rest okay. I'm a primary school teacher in Australia.

[@andrewm6424]

He switches the sign. Instead of doing negative 1/5 divided by positive 2/3 (which is negative 3/10) and then subtracting the negative from a negative, he skipped the “two negatives in mathematics make a positive” rule and just inherently did it. (Something I forgot to do, which gave me the wrong answer of negative 9/10).

[@SeattlePioneer]

The first operation is to divide -1/5 by 2/3 = (-1/5 ) (3/2) = -3/10 that's negative 3/10 To divide -1/5 by 2/3, invert and multiply, right? so (-1/5) (3/2) = negative 3/10

[@SeattlePioneer]

@@andrewm6424 So---- how's my teaching?

[@cherylwilliams2787]

Multiply first

[@rolandrolandovski7701]

Thanks!

[@doreenpabarue3943]

I got all the steps right I’m nearly 75yrs still teaching cxc math

[@henrybarnett]

I'm 77 love maths and got it it right but made it positive!!

[@mp3lwgm]

Just put parentheses in to make this clear; As written it is misleading.

[@pmw3839]

Not if you follow PEMDAS.

[@paulbrady701]

Wow,I’ve just realised how bad my maths understanding is. I’ll blame 1970s catholic school system and my fall back excuse of the war we had here in Ireland back in the day . Thanks for sharing 😊

[@brokeeper2007]

My first answer was incorrect but that’s because I thought the x was a variable not an operation sign. As a teacher I would have given my students at least partial credit. I would have taken the blame for not clarifying that to them ahead of time.

[@cbesthelper404]

Yes, it is easy to see the "x" as a variable. I usually use the dot for multiplication in these types of problems.

[@mrDADtheSecond]

Answer is .15 or about 1/7th? Multiplication first Divide next Subtract last

[@harrycook2768]

why have brackets?..none here and it would easy with them

[@patricksmith4424]

As others have mentioned in the UK its BODMAS. However, PEMDAS is better as it includes exponents. On BODMAS division always takes precident over multiplication, in the example given the division came first as it was being read from left to right. Does this mean that if the multiplication came first then this would have been the first to process? . Maybe adding e to BODMAS would be the best thing. BOEDMAS. I may well adopt PEMDAS from now on.

[@maskedmarvyl4774]

My understanding is that multiplication and division are on the same level, and addition and subtraction are on the same lower level. So, I would read the problem from left to right, and whatever came first, division or multiplication, I would do in that order. If anyone disagrees with that, please feel free to correct me.

[@paulgoddard7385]

I've seen variations of BODMAS, where the O stands for other, which includes exponents, or BIDMAS, where the I stands for indices.

[@senayberhanu5966]

In the BODMAS the O stands for order(power). Power is a base number raised to the exponent. I don't think you need to adopt PEMDAS.

[@thumper88888]

M and D are commutative- equal- order is irrelevant

[@pmw3839]

BODMAS and PEMDAS are exactly the same. Just different terminology. The O in BODMAS stands for Order (= Exponent). And yes, if the multiplication came first in the problem (reading from left to right), it would have been performed first. In BODMAS, Division doesn’t take precedence over Multiplication. As in PEMDAS, neither Division nor Multiplication takes precedence. Multiplication and Division have equal priority, and are performed in the order that they appear in the problem, reading from left to right.

[@williambabyboiwoodall4908]

Neg 3/5

[@tlahe2]

Divide 1/5 by 2/3 ==> 3/10. 1940, 4th grade, Sister Anunciatis., RIP.

[@scottm8727]

-3/20...oops. I did the multiplication first and got it wrong. When I went left to right, I got the right answer. Must you go left to right with a string of multiplications and divisions?

[@pmw3839]

Yes. They all have equal priority. So, they are performed left to right as they appear in the problem.

[@helenbaltz2388]

Why do you associate the negative sign with the numerator?

[@cbesthelper404]

Convention. You may attach the negative sign on the denominator, or place the negative sign in the middle to the left of the division bar. It doesn't matter.

[@jeremyedwards8286]

Division should be solved first.

[@danieldennis9831]

I thought I did this one. But -3/5. Maybe I just redid it but it's good practice.

[@meghnathhajirnis5589]

What about BODMAS? The answer is different from PEMDAS

[@sorleytarrys8501]

I Didn't know about BODMAS so I looked it up and it's the same as PEMDAS just using different Words.

[@pmw3839]

No. The answer is the same. You are probably thinking division before multiplication. But neither takes precedence. Watch the video again. He explains that.

[@skilz8098]

Did this problem in my head and it took me about a minute... When I was younger I probably could have done this much faster. The answer should be -3/5.

[@drunkindonuts13]

It's not the order of operations that messes me up; it's all the negatives. If you don't change the sign from -1/5 to + -1/5, you end up with a different answer of -9/10. I've seen teachers change the sign, and I've seen teachers who don't change the sign. This is why children get so damned confused.

[@cbesthelper404]

You will get the same answer whether you change the subtraction symbol to plus a negative or not.

[@duggydugg3937]

nah .. i was always taught to simplify both sides first.. left side is - 16/20.. then - .8

[@winangels2375]

You are correct, when it's an equation. This is an expression that needs to be solved...

[@duggydugg3937]

@@winangels2375 same issue.. convert expressions into values that can be calculated by arithmetic

[@winangels2375]

@@duggydugg3937 the equal sign separates the sides of an equation. In an expression, there are no sides. Simplify from left to right depending on the operation.

[@cbesthelper404]

@@winangels2375 Needs to be simplified.

[@bobpickering1]

I easily got it right. I haven’t forgotten what I learned 60 years ago.

[@MrMousley]

It's funny that you said 75% will get it wrong in a fraction problem and not 3/4 - 3/4 - 1/5 / 2/3 x - 1/2 change 1/5 / 2/3 to 1/5 x 3/2 - 3/4 - 1/5 x 3/2 x - 1/2 now do - 1/5 x 3/2 - 3/4 - 3/10 x - 1/2 now - 3/10 x - 1/2 - 3/4 + 3/20 change 3/4 to 15/20 - 15/20 + 3/20 and do the addition - 12/20 or - 3/5

[@peteralvino8298]

opps - 3/5

[@ellahlopec6851]

Don't konw if I'm right, but if I am You have a little mistake. So what I've been teached is that if we have a negativ (-) number after the multipication sign (*) we would have to put it in a parenthesis. Nevertheless, You are so amazing and thank You. I personly don't need help with math I watch your videos for fun and to learn some new things and ways. Aslo I'm new here so I don't really know if You have done it before and explane it or not, if You have I apologize.

[@cbesthelper404]

Actually, there is no need to do that.

[@richardduggar4665]

Divide

[@gregdavies352]

Wow.. PEMDAS ? how to confuse kids? I was taught BODMAS in the UK, this has now become BIDMAS and always means you do division before multiplication. How did you ever come up with PEMDAS ???

[@pmw3839]

No it doesn’t. Common misconception. Division and Multiplication have equal priority. PEMDAS is the American version. But it is exactly the same.

[@danielmadden9691]

It's a long time since I was at school

[@buggemon3607]

Converted fractions to decimals did the math, 2 EZ

[@davidseed2939]

2.1

[@bloodymarvelous4790]

-3/5 or -0.6

[@salumuswedi6884]

Division first

[@peteralvino8298]

1 and 37/80

[@joemurray8902]

Dang I thought division comes before multiplication :-( AAAAAAAA I did it right (but only by luck because I didn't realize the rule about what you come across going left to right)!!!

[@ray-wm7yd]

In UK its BODMAS

[@gugigraubvogel4263]

The final is 0 100%

[@peteralvino8298]

3/5

[@paulregret3180]

I am 80. I got this right with a pencil in 60 seconds.

[@phuongdoan4688]

I think writing is wrong (x-1/2)

[@danielmadden9691]

I worked from left to right and got -33/80

[@flamindigo]

I almost got the pemdas right; but I did it all in my head, and I got it wrong; +6/11

[@bobh6728]

I disagree with one step you did. It didn’t effect the answer, but technically it is wrong according to PEMDAS. You changed minus 1/5 to plus negative 1/5. Actually the minus is minus the last term which involves the division and multiplication of the three fractions. So if you were to put in parenthesis, the opening parenthesis would go after the minus sign before the 1/5, and the closing parenthesis would go at the end. So you have to do everything inside the parenthesis before changing the minus to plus a negative. What you did is valid, just not for the reason you gave which could result in the wrong answer in certain situations. For example minus 2 squared cannot just be changed to plus negative 2 squared. The first is -4, the second is +4.

[@cbesthelper404]

Bob, that was no mistake. You can rewrite -1/5 as + -1/5. Your explanation for placement of parentheses is incorrect. If you wanted to place parentheses, they would be placed just as he placed them. No mistake here.

[@pmw3839]

In your last example, according to PEMDAS, the exponent must be evaluated first (before adding or subtracting). So, with minus 2 squared, the 2 squared is evaluated first (= 4). Then the answer is -4 or + (-4). If the intention was to square -2 (= +4), then the -2 should be in brackets: (-2). And the exponent outside the brackets.

[@pmw3839]

The minus sign in front of the “1/5”, only applies to the “1/5”; not to all the subsequent terms as well. If the latter was the intention, there should be have been an opening bracket after the minus sign and a closed bracket at the end of the problem.

[@waelshanan5337]

what about BODMAS????

[@pmw3839]

PEMDAS is the American version. They are exactly the same; just different terminology.

[@ireneesch8555]

Why would I even want to know how to solve this?

[@cbesthelper404]

There is nothing to solve.

[@pmw3839]

For fun? Why do people do crosswords or sudoku puzzles? If it’s not fun for you, don’t do it.

[@argonwheatbelly637]

I can't decide if I expect to hear a cubing video or a minecraft video.

[@chiravanakku8411]

What I got is 57/20= 2 and 17/20

[@teofilodaquipil4100]

Establish the rules of math, otherwise, you will be a victim of tricks.

[@yumitokushige8486]

Many of those who choose to watch this channel or video must get that right.

[@theodoresweger4948]

Simply because it't writter wrong...

[@billygraham4272]

Boss why so long

[@lakediver6388]

Please excuse my dear aunt Susan. Parenthesis, Exponentiation, Multiplication, Division, Add, Subtract !

[@NoorAli-vk8nx]

The answer is -3/5

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

6.333 / 20. Whatever that is. I don't have a calculator.

[@brianneill4376]

Parenthesis, are at a lower order to the Greater than and less than signs that are added to the Common order to bring your mrasures to cultured + powered exponents are amplified to amplitude at median of Distance, +: is and additional "Optic" to Infinite from Zero+, "Is"×"One=.+!~2/1^3=0.1^3! So, 0+1~1/3~0+1^3>0.1^3~°×%+(0)~[1]{3}Is Cubical+.=$>$0.1^3=0.1×1.0=(1^3)[Cubed]{Cubical}|0|{&^, "Spherical"~1°×%>(Cubical)1! 10!/~(E=M^2)+[1/3]{3}D^3=%×°+1,620^3~0.1^3(%)×[°]{Are}0.1^3=Widget+1~"Noun" of Exponent.

[@robertreynolds1044]

I have a genius IQ and love knowledge, but as a machinist, cyclist, stagehand, traveler, and building things expert,I fail to see exactly the need to know this is important. I love quantification and playing with numbers but this is ridiculous. My name is Bicycle Bob and I approved this message.

[@angusmacmillan5365]

I'm probably adding myself to the 75% who get this wrong but I got the answer to 0.6. Having watched the full video I see I am one of the 75% :-)

[@pmw3839]

-0.6 would have been correct. So not far off.

[@jjthekid1781]

I didn't need pen and paper to do this

[@donyellperry4176]

and his hungry for king island food?

[@jeffs7915]

-.60

[@yasirriaz9455]

_12/20

[@billygraham4272]

-3/5

[@quabledistocficklepo3597]

Do problems like this exist in the real world, or are they simply designed to catch people in the "order of operations" they use? Shouldn't the goal be to write problems in a way that cannot be misunderstood, a way that everyone would solve in the same way? Let's eliminate "Order of operations," and learn to write problems that can only be solved in one way.

[@brokeeper2007]

It depends on what your real world consists of. If it involves a world of building, statistics, or other math, then yes, it does. If your world consists of writing or other creative output, then probably not. The thing is, when a student is in middle school we don’t know. 12 year olds are mainly just potential. When my students ask, “When are we going to use this in real life,” I’m honest with them. I tell them, “I really don’t know. I do know you are going to use this in real life next week when you have a test on it.” After that, it’s up to them.