document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=985997>Question 985997</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> We avoid writing expressions like 32÷8÷2÷2 because the order of the divisions isn’t clear. However, you can make the order clear if you insert enough parentheses.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The value of 32÷8÷2÷2 depends on where you put the parentheses. For example, ((32÷8)÷2)÷2 = 1, but (32 ÷ 8) ÷ (2 ÷ 2) = 4.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "By inserting any number of parentheses wherever you want, what is the largest number you can make 32÷8÷2÷2 come out to?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(Your answer should be an integer, not the expression with parentheses that gives you that integer.) </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #606773 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josgarithmetic><B>josgarithmetic(39618)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josgarithmetic><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=606773\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Using here the forward slash to mean DIVISION SYMBOL, your expression can be restated  32/8/2/2.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "If no parentheses or grouping symbols are used, then the order of operations is strictly from left to right.  This is understood to be the convention.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "32/8/2/2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4/2/2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2/2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Yes, the value of 32/8/2/2 depends on where you place the parentheses, but none is used in your given expression; so the result is 1.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Try to start the parentheses nesting from the other end...<BR>\n" );
document.write( "32/8/2/2<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "32/(8/(2/2))<BR>\n" );
document.write( "32/(8/1)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "32/8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Try moving the nesting one place leftward.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(32/(8/2)/2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Now compute<BR>\n" );
document.write( "32/4/2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "8/2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Another way,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "32/((8/2)/2)------------*<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "32/(4/2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "32/2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "16-----------The way you expected. * </SPAN>\n" );
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