Question 553046
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Spreadsheet arithmetic and algebraic notation, while related, are really two different things.


The first equation is incorrect in that it is ambiguous.


Does it mean:


*[tex \LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \frac{(-2)\ -\ (-8)}{(6+4x(-4)-(-6))}\ =\ x]


or


*[tex \LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ (-2)\ -\ \frac{(-8)}{(6+4x(-4)-(-6))}\ =\ x]


The first way has no real number solutions (the solution is a conjugate pair of complex numbers) whereas the two solutions for the second way are real but irrational -- both of which seem a bit beyond what you would typically see in middle school -- UNLESS the *[tex \Large x] in the denominator expression is supposed to mean "times" as opposed to being the variable *[tex \Large x], in which case the answer is a single integer.  But you still need to clarify the ambiguity, i.e., is the (-2) inside or outside of the fraction?


You need to clarify what you really mean.


John
*[tex \LARGE e^{i\pi} + 1 = 0]
My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it
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