HP Forums
Order of Operations and RPN - Printable Version

+- HP Forums (https://www.hpmuseum.org/forum)
+-- Forum: Not HP Calculators (/forum-7.html)
+--- Forum: Not quite HP Calculators - but related (/forum-8.html)
+--- Thread: Order of Operations and RPN (/thread-14481.html)



Order of Operations and RPN - SlideRule - 02-09-2020 12:12 PM

Order of Operations and RPN, an expository paper in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts in Teaching {U of N} by Greg Vanderbeek.

There is not a wealth of information regarding the history of the notations and procedures associated with what is now called the “order of operations”. There is evidence that some agreed upon order existed from the beginning of mathematical study. The grammar used in the earliest mathematical writings, before mathematical notation existed, supports the notion of computational order. It is clear that one person did not invent the rules but rather current practices have grown gradually over several centuries and are still evolving.

An edifying and scholarly article for the 'archives'.

BEST!
SlideRule


RE: Order of Operations and RPN - toml_12953 - 02-09-2020 12:32 PM

(02-09-2020 12:12 PM)SlideRule Wrote:  Order of Operations and RPN, an expository paper in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts in Teaching {U of N} by Greg Vanderbeek.

There is not a wealth of information regarding the history of the notations and procedures associated with what is now called the “order of operations”. There is evidence that some agreed upon order existed from the beginning of mathematical study. The grammar used in the earliest mathematical writings, before mathematical notation existed, supports the notion of computational order. It is clear that one person did not invent the rules but rather current practices have grown gradually over several centuries and are still evolving.

An edifying and scholarly article for the 'archives'.

BEST!
SlideRule

I don't get the expression on pg 4 and 5. How is (9-5)+2 the same as (9+-5)*1/2 ?


RE: Order of Operations and RPN - rprosperi - 02-09-2020 02:41 PM

(02-09-2020 12:32 PM)toml_12953 Wrote:  I don't get the expression on pg 4 and 5. How is (9-5)+2 the same as (9+-5)*1/2 ?

The initial equation is actually (9-5) / 2, though using the obelus division symbol (where I show the slash), which unfortunately looks like a plus sign because the font used is fuzzy.


RE: Order of Operations and RPN - pinkman - 02-09-2020 03:08 PM

Very confusing indeed.
[attachment=8077]


RE: Order of Operations and RPN - SlideRule - 02-09-2020 04:28 PM

(02-09-2020 12:32 PM)toml_12953 Wrote:  I don't get the expression on pg 4 and 5. How is (9-5)+2 the same as (9+-5)*1/2 ?


(02-09-2020 02:41 PM)rprosperi Wrote:  The initial equation is actually (9-5) / 2, though using the obelus division symbol (where I show the slash), which unfortunately looks like a plus sign because the font used is fuzzy.


How apropos: ÷ notation vs. / notation. Thanks Bob!

BEST!
SlideRule


RE: Order of Operations and RPN - toml_12953 - 02-09-2020 06:11 PM

(02-09-2020 02:41 PM)rprosperi Wrote:  
(02-09-2020 12:32 PM)toml_12953 Wrote:  I don't get the expression on pg 4 and 5. How is (9-5)+2 the same as (9+-5)*1/2 ?

The initial equation is actually (9-5) / 2, though using the obelus division symbol (where I show the slash), which unfortunately looks like a plus sign because the font used is fuzzy.

Thanks for the explanation! I thought they were using "New Math"! Smile