https://zeta.one/viral-math/

I wrote a (very long) blog post about those viral math problems and am looking for feedback, especially from people who are not convinced that the problem is ambiguous.

It’s about a 30min read so thank you in advance if you really take the time to read it, but I think it’s worth it if you joined such discussions in the past, but I’m probably biased because I wrote it :)

    • wischi@programming.devOP
      61·
      2 years ago

      I’m not sure if I’d call it the “scientific” one. I’d actually say that the weak juxtaposition is just the simple one schools use because they don’t want to confuse everyone. Scientist actually use both and make sure to prevent ambiguity. IMHO the main takeaway is that there is no consensus and one has to be careful to not write ambiguous expressions.

        • atomicorange@lemmy.world
          31·
          2 years ago

          I’m a scientist and I’ve only ever encountered strong juxtaposition in quick scribbles where everyone knows the equation already. Normally we’re very careful to use fraction notation (or parentheses) when there’s any possibility of ambiguity. I read the equation and was shocked that anyone would get an answer other than 9.

          • 💡𝚂𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗆𝖺𝗇 𝙰𝗉𝗉𝗌📱@programming.devEnglish
            1·
            2 years ago

            I read the equation and was shocked that anyone would get an answer other than 9

            As a Maths teacher, I’m shocked whenever anyone ever gets an answer other than 1. I’m not sure how you came up with 9 when you previously said you’ve only ever seen strong juxtaposition? You can only get 9 with so-called “weak juxtaposition” (which is wrong).

                • 💡𝚂𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗆𝖺𝗇 𝙰𝗉𝗉𝗌📱@programming.devEnglish
                  1·
                  2 years ago

                  Not sure how you came up with that conclusion. I never said anything about it being “just a blog post”.

                  You said…

                  I don’t understand how the author of the post lands on “there is no good or bad way, they are all valid”

                  And I’m pointing out he arrived at that by ignoring what’s taught in high school, which is where it’s taught (not in academia). It’s like saying “It’s ambiguous if there’s such a thing as rain” if you present weather evidence which has omitted every single rainy day that has happened. i.e. cherry-picking. Every single blog which says it’s ambiguous has done the exact same thing. You can find what actually is taught in high school here

      • 💡𝚂𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗆𝖺𝗇 𝙰𝗉𝗉𝗌📱@programming.devEnglish
        11·
        2 years ago

        I’d actually say that the weak juxtaposition is just the simple one schools use

        Schools don’t teach “weak juxtaposition” - they teach the actual rules of Maths! As per what’s in Maths textbooks. It’s adults who’ve forgotten the rules who make up the “weak juxtaposition” rule. See Lennes.