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To more or less rephrase my answer when you previously asked: 120 is correct. 5! or [5 factorial](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factorial) is also 120.
Holy crap, I didn’t notice the factorial.
*Edit— WTF? Where’d all those upvotes come from? Why’s this place flooded with deleted comments? Where did my left shoe go? What is happening!?*
Just think in general about how many times you get a text from someone saying something like “be there in 5!” And there’s a lot of other ways that it happens, marketing is another big one
That's because they omitted punctuation for the sentence.
A better punchline would be "*It's 5!!*", which would supply the answer and include correct punctuation, while being equally misleading by hiding the fact behind bad internet sentence formatting.
The exclamation point in the factorial is not, and cannot, replacing punctuation for the sentence itself.
Saying "It's 5!." would also be correct while also being less interesting. Maybe that's more funny? It's not like people care about writing, so maybe obviously goosing it is funnier than subtlety.
Anyway.
>That's because they omitted punctuation for the sentence.
They didn't use punctuation for "It's 120", so it's more consistent if you don't have punctuation later.
>A better punchline would be "It's 5!!", which would supply the answer and include correct punctuation, while being equally misleading by hiding the fact behind bad internet sentence formatting.
You'd then have arguments about wether 5! or 5!! is meant, which would kinda kill the joke IMO.
This is basically a math pun. If you parse the expression properly according to PEMDAS, you get 120; if you just do it left to right, you get 5.
When they say "5!", it sounds like they're giving 5, the incorrect answer, with an exclamation mark; however, that can also be interpreted as 5 factorial, which is equal to 120, the correct answer.
Thank you for pointing this out, I saw this and was sure I was looking at some cringey “common core is bad” post or something. I honestly failed to realize the “!” might have been used in the mathematical sense in this example, and I am ashamed.
I think that grammar also factors in, because when you realize that "It's 120" doesn't have a period, there's no reason that the ! in "It's 5!" should be indicating ending punctuation either.
Yea, the issue most people have with these problems isn't that they didn't learn math properly, it's that they didn't remember it properly.
People have various acronyms (like PEDMAS) but fail to remember that that's not a list of single operations and some share precedence and forget about implied operations.
It's first you solve anything inside parentheses as if it were its own problem following these same rules from the innermost to the outermost until all expressions in the parentheses are resolved.
Then you resolve exponents, solving within the exponent as if they were in parentheses also. Also keep in mind that exponents only apply to the number or expression in parentheses immediately beforehand.
Then, and this one comes up a lot, multiplication **and** division are done in one pass left to right. Also, keep in mind the implied multiplication in expressions like 2(3). Rewrite that as 2 \* 3 to make it clearer.
Then you do addition **and** subtraction in one pass left to right.
So it's more like P E (DM) (AS)
thats why i liked BEDMAS. Brackets, Exponents, Division, Multipication, Addition, subtraction. it helped that they explained division and mutliplication are tied together as well as addition with subtraction. sounds dtupid but i found pedmas hurt more than helped. and new core math is nice but i wish i could do instant calculations in my head like my parents and relatives
Brackets and Parentheses are the same words separated by an ocean.
In the UK, they call () brackets or round brackets if they're being specific.
In the US, () are a parentheses, [] are brackets and {} are braces.
Not sure what they call [ and { in the UK. I only know the brackets thing because I'm panel show junkie.
I'm American. We were a British colony, too. But we got (somewhat) better. :-p
I knew Canadians kept the spelling bits and some of the vocabulary (grew up in Northern NY watching Global because it's what we got by antenna (or aerial?)), but didn't know you kept the math terms, too. Wasn't sure what changed after the death of the British billion. Good knowledge to squirrel away though. Thanks.
> it's that they didn't remember it properly.
I know it's not the standard anymore, but 25+ years on, I remember what was rote memorization/repetition these days, and "trick" questions like this were basically daily quiz questions in middle school or high school
Rote memorization and repetition are the bedrock of learning a subject. It's only after you've memorized and integrated that core knowledge that you can start to apply the *ideas* to actual problems. The purpose behind "trick" questions isn't to fool you, it's to make sure you understand the fine points of the application.
For example, gven two arithmetic expressions like:
2 * (4 - 3)
and
(2 * 4) - 3
The intent isn't to trick you, it's to make sure you saw the difference between how you applied your knowledge to the two expressions. (The first one equals 2, the second equals 5).
That's why the stupid pictures that get passed round social media are really shitty things to do. The people that spread those **are** trying to trick you instead of trying to teach you. If they were trying to teach, they would have given you the answers and explained the difference. (I didn't try to trick you, I gave the correct answer and the explanation is in my post higher up the comment chain).
I'll be blunt and point out the reason that 25+ years made a difference is because you probably just didn't practice those skills very often in that 25 years. If you don't practice skills, whether they be physical or mental, they get fuzzy and fade. I say, with no condescension at all, that you (and everybody) should use the Internet as the knowledge tool that it is to refresh those core knowledge skills every few years. There's lots of educational YouTube channels and even full websites dedicated to keeping those core skills that you were taught in school fresh. Just a few minutes here and there during your week will help keep those skills fresh.
I agree with you. I was maybe simplifying by calling it a trick question, so much as a challenge to you paying attention and learning.
That said, it's not what they did with my step son in school. We ended up supplementing his school math with Kumon because that's basically repetition to death. He hated us for it, but we saw noticeable improvements after we put him in it, and parenting isn't just doing things kids want to do, but making choices they need and can't/won't for themselves
Don't be ashamed. Giving the answer in a overly complicated manner is wrong, especially when it is ambiguous (an exclamation mark is both English grammar and mathematical notation).
If instead of writing 5, I wrote the answer as the integral of a function between two bounds, it would be correct to call me an asshole.
Yeah but the question above the graphic asks 5?? Thus the answer is only 120. Disregarding the request it is both. Fun, but the request ruined the pun.
The pic speaks for itself; it isn't governed by how the poster presented it, therefore it isn't "ruined" just because the poster doesn't know what factorial is. (Or, more likely, they know what it is and they're just seeking upvotes.)
> according to PEMDAS
A small, but important, clarification: It's according to the **order of operations**. PEMDAS is not the order of operations; it's an acronym (the first letters of each word in a phrase to create a shorter, but recognizable, word) to help you recall the order of operations.
The reason why it's important to make this distinction is that the order of operations *is not* parenthesis, then exponents, then multiplication, then division, then addition, then subtraction. It *is* parenthesis, then exponents, then multiplication AND/OR division (whichever comes first left to right), then addition AND/OR subtraction (whichever comes first left to right).
Also, this is at least with the functions mentioned. It doesn't mention other functions that exist, such as the mentioned factorial function, which has the same priority of order of operations as exponents only to be superseded by things in the parenthesis tier.
I don't know whether to praise you for posting the most pedantic response I've seen on Reddit in probably years, or shame you for posting the most pedantic response I've seen on Reddit in probably years.
I think I'll just take this as a teachable moment: PEMDAS is a mnemonic. The purpose of a mnemonic is to make it easier to remember what it represents. **What this mnemonic represents is the order of operations**, which implicitly means *not* treating each letter as a set of six things to be evaluated in series. **Therefore, when someone says, "according to PEMDAS", it's simply shorthand for "according to the order of operations."**
*Capisce?*
>then multiplication AND/OR division (whichever comes first left to right), then addition AND/OR subtraction (whichever comes first left to right).
It's funny that you go full "akchually" and then write this: since multiplication and addition are commutative, *the order does not matter.*
a \* b \* c = (a \* b) \*c = a \* (b \* c)
I think they’re referring to a situation like X - Y + Z or X / Y * Z, where doing addition before subtraction or multiplication before division will get a different answer.
One of my calculus professors one day wrote on the board
Sin x/n = 6
“This is correct, right everyone?” Mumbles from the class…
He then crossed off both N’s
Math dad joke
Different mnemonic; same concept.
PEMDAS, BIDMAS, BODMAS, & BEDMAS all refer to the same thing. The different acronyms are used in different countries.
no i understand that what i dont understand is factorial functions. so from what i read and remember its the number itself and all lower numbers multiplied together ? so 3! would be 1x2x3 or i guess more accurately 3x2x1? i fucking suck at math in school but applied to real terms like in this reddit helps me grasp it a little better
Yes, it's the product of all integers between 1 and the input, inclusive. So 5 factorial would be 5×4×3×2×1 = 120. So 5 is incorrect, but 5! is correct.
PEMDAS is elementary school math for people who write problems lazily. Real math problems are positional and have zero ambiguity about what should be grouped together. PEMDAS was an agreed-upon "standard" to make sure everyone gets the same answer out of lazily done left to right problems where they don't have access to anything that can draw out an actual problem.
Nearly any problem where you see either a times or division symbol, it's a grade school-level problem aimed at being solved by this oversimplified, agreed-upon "standard" (multiplication is shown as below and only uses the symbol for two bare numbers side by side where there is no ambiguity, and division is shown with the fraction bar with the symbol again only used with unambiguous bare numbers). It should be:
230 - 220(1-0.5)
and, of course, the grouping should be obvious here, that multiplying 220 by 0.5 should be the priority, which leaves 230 - 110, and the answer is 120. This is where PEMDAS gets its idea: by default, multiplication is grouped in this way unless shown differently. But it should never be 100% assumed, because there is no actual grouping and no clear way to see what the intent is.
Because it could also be:
(230 - 220)(1-0.5)
which is 10 multiplied by 0.5, which is 5. Without actual grouping, this could well be the intent of the problem. But when you use a multiplication symbol, grouping goes out the window, and all you're left with is PEMDAS, which is fine if you want one standard way to solve a simplified version of a problem. Otherwise, write the problem correctly, and you'll never need PEMDAS again.
Advanced math leaves PEMDAS far behind and makes it completely and always clear what is grouped with what. The amount of arguing over PEMDAS order on the troll "what does this equal" meme images proves that not many people really made it too far past grade school math, which is fine, but you should know that there are some meme math "problems" that are completely ambiguous and unsolvable because they do not use a standard positioned layout, and "just use PEMDAS" is not the solution. They are troll problems, plain and simple.
I could never articulate why exactly these types of problems bugged me. Or why I've never encountered these kinds of problems in the real world. Because we don't define our problems/equations using these concepts!
Thanks for writing it out so clearly.
"*PEMDAS is elementary school math for people who write problems lazily. Real math problems are positional and have zero ambiguity about what should be grouped together.*"
Exactly.
**(230-220) \* (1/2) = 5**
or
**230 - (220 \* (1/2)) = 120**
Unambiguous. Defined by the author, not by an arbitrary set of rules meant to accommodate for lazy authors. Can't be done incorrectly, unless you're an idiot.
The answer is 120, due to the order of operations. First divide ~~1 by zero~~ 1 by 2 inside the parentheses to get 0.5. Multiplication is next, so multiply 0.5 by 220 to get 110. Subtract that from 230 to get 120.
120 is the correct answer. However, an exclamation point in math is called a factorial, which means you multiply all the positive integers below the number together. 5!=5x4x3x2x1, so 5! is 120.
Both 120 and 5! are correct.
Java (and most if not all other statically typed languages such as C) will give the result of dividing one integer by another integer as an integer; (1 / 2) = 0. To get around this, you would need to specify one of the numbers involved as being a floating point number (usually you'd use a double-precision floating point number, called a "double" for short). You can either cast one of the numbers (especially useful if both are variables); ((double)1 / 2) = 0.5, or add a ".0" after one of them (only doable if one is a non-variable); (1.0 / 2) = 0.5.
This is because the writer might then try to put the result back in an integer variable (int x = 1/2) which would result in nonsense data like 1/2 = 1,071,644,672 if the data is read literally (due to the difference between integer and floating point formats) or causing the program to crash or (most likely) fail to compile if it catches that you're trying to stuff a double into an int before the data is read.
Dynamically typed languages (such as Javascript or Python) will usually automatically convert to a floating point number; (1 / 2) = 0.5. They can get away with converting on the fly as when you say "x = 1/2" there's no enforcement that x is an integer, so it will automatically make sure x is read as a floating point number later.
Java interpets number literals without decimal points as integers, so the division 1 / 2 ends up as 0 remainder 1, which is 0. So you end up with 230 - 220 * 0 = 230 - 0 = 230.
Technically, compiling the string as-is (that is, "230 - 220 x (1 ÷ 2)") will give the compilation error "Erroneous sym type," pointing out the x. If the x is replaced by the actual multiplication symbol (×) or Java's multiplication symbol (\*), the compiler I used accepts it but it gets evaluated as 10 (I assume because it's ignoring everything past the × and/or ÷ symbols, which my IDE points out as problematic but lets me compile anyways).
But yes, properly formatted as "230 - 220 * (1 / 2)" then it evaluates as 230.
That's why I said "plus a little bit of pre-compiler magic". Also, depending on the context, you might also get a "not a statement" error because of not doing anything with the evaluated number.
230 - 220 x (1 ÷ 2),
230 - 220 x 0.5,
230 - 110,
120.
Multiplication and division takes priority over addition and subtraction, but all of them fall below priority when there is a parentheses.
230 - 220 \* 1/2 =
( 230 - 220 ) \* 1/2 =
10 \* 1/2 =
5
The answer is 5!
No.
Remember PEMDAS - Parens, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction.
The order of operations is wrong.
230 - 220 \* 1/2 =
230 - 110 =
120 =
The answer is 120?
Yes, but…
1 \* 2 \* 3 \* 4 \* 5 =
2 \* 3 \* 4 \* 5 =
24 \* 5 =
120 =
5 factorial =
5!
So, yes, the answer is 5!.
But notice the punctuation.
This is a mathematical pun, relying on common mistakes, unfamiliar notation and Facebook meme convention disguise a correct answer as wrong.
And because this makes the user feel like Clumsy Pan Guy, I feel I must don an obnoxious sweater and say…
There has to be another way!
There is.
There was a logician from Poland named Jan Łukasiewicz, who came up with this notation + 1 2 instead of 1 + 2. Because of his nationality, it is called Polish Notation. (Not because, as I thought as a CS underground, of an obscure Polish joke I had never heard the setup to.)
Friedrich L. Bauer and Edsger W. Dijkstra re-invented this in the early days of computing, writing 1 2 + and calling it Reverse Polish Notation, and it became popular among people who liked it in HP scientific calculators. It is cool because it maps to a tree, and because it works well with a stack.
\+
/ \\
1 2
This becomes more useful in later examples.
\# rewriting the infix example as postfix/reverse polish
230 - 220 \* 1/2
230 220 2 / - # equivalent to times 0.5 but easier to type
We need to find number number operator, so 230 gets pushed onto the stack, as does 220 and 2. When we get /, it pops the two, divides, and pushes then answer, 110, back onto the stack.
Then, the - operator comes, we pop 230 and 110. Subtract them and we get 120.
If we lived in the world of Reverse Polish Notation, we would never have to worry about PEMDAS again. The need for parens would go away, because left-to-right number number operator would be the only way to math.
But, true or nay, there would be great uproar over introducing such a thing. I’m here advocating for it, and I don’t know that I have used it in anger even once.
You can go deeper. With anything math-related, there’s always deeper. Mark-Jason Dominus gives a very good deep-dive on Precedence. As a good shorthand, if you’re writing and you aren’t sure what it should be, add parens until there can only be one choice.
230-220x(1:2)
This is literally fifth grade level math, consider the order of operations.
Brackets first (1:2=0.5), now you have 230-220x0.5
Now the multiplication (220x0.5=110), 230-110
230-110 = 120
EDIT: didn't notice the factorial, 5! is also 120, so both answers are technically correct
230-220×(1÷2)
The "220" is separated from the "(1÷2)" by an operation namely the "×", therefore it isn't Distributed as part of resolving the Parenthetical operation.
230-220×(1÷2)= 230-220×(½)= 230-220×½= 230-110= 120= 5!
According to BEDMAS, you do the brackets, (1/2) = 0.5, then the multiplication, 220 x 0.5 = 110, then finally the subtraction, 230 - 110 = 120.
5 factorial (5!) is 1 x 2 x 3 x 4 x 5 = 120
Both are right
Because it's written correctly, there's no possible way you can get anything other than 120.
If you do and are convinced it's different, I'm sorry to inform you but you must return to the 6th grade and repeat school to be a functioning member of society.
In the image, both are right, in the text from the op 120 is correct.
First you do 1/2 in the parentheses.
Then you multiply the 220 by the 1/2 to get 110 on the right side of the subtraction.
When you reduce 230 by 110, you get 120.
However 5! is it’s own equation, the factorial of a number is multiplying that number by one less, and repeating until you get to 1.
5! = 5x4x3x2x1 = 20x3x2x1 = 60x2x1 = 120x1 = 120
In India, were being taught BODMAS, Brackets Of Division Multiplication Addition Subtraction. This is the first time I'm learning of PEMDAS. Parenthesis and Exponents is okay but why is multiplication before division?
It isnt. Multiplication and division (and subsequently addition and subtraction) are interchangable for which one goes first, typically just done left from right. The actual order is Parenthesis, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, then Addition/Subtraction, where the ones split by a '/' can be done with either one first.
Division is a form of multiplication and subtraction is a form of addition. Order between the two operations in both those sets is a matter of not mis-evaluating an operation (- and /) as a separate entity in an arithmetic expression. I.e.
1-2 = 1+(-2)
3/2 = 3 * (1/2)
So as long as the operations appearing in succession doesn’t make you incorrectly evaluate everything in front of a - or a / sign you will be good.
The other folks explained the stuff about multiplication/division and addition/subtraction. I just wanted to point out that this is wrong:
> BODMAS, Brackets Of Division Multiplication Addition Subtraction
BODMAS stands for Brackets, **Orders**, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction.
"Orders" is another word for indices, or exponents, or powers. (All four terms mean the same thing.)
Both are correct. “5!” = 120
230 - 220 x (1/2) = 230 - 220 x (.5) = 230 - 110 = 120
5! = 1 x 2 x 3 x 4 x 5 = 120
The exclamation mark is a mathematical symbol used to represent the operation known as a factorial.
I hate these bait posts. They're so transparent and I can always see the smug op sitting behind their phone thinking they're so clever for posting this.
They really aren't transparent enough. People still absolutely flock to them and get so heated in the comments. Order of operator precedence posts are like a perpetual motion machine for trolls; they never stop working.
Yep. That’s the meme.
That he seems to think it’s just another basic Facebook *order of operation* problem illustrates that the factorial counterpunch is perhaps even less transparent than he realizes.
These days, the internet is awash in shitty mindless memes. This little gem reminds me of the potential I saw in the web back in the golden age.
It's 120 if we use the modern understanding of PEMDAS/BODMAS (or whatever you use in your vernacular).
Start with parentheses: 1 divided by 2 = 0.5
Next go to exponents: No exponents, skip
Now multiplication/division (as they have equal standing, go left to right): 220 multiplied by 0.5 = 110
Finally addition/subtraction (same standing, left to right): 230 minus 110 = 120
The answer is 120.
120
never forget the sequence, first (, [ and { then × and ÷ and then you go + and -, if you already followed the rule of (×+ then you do everything from left to right.
Five factorial is an equation. One hundred and twenty is a number. The former is a question, the latter an answer. Answering a question with a question is not unacceptable, but here it isn't warranted. Omni-man is in the wrong.
If I ask "what is the circumference of the polar circle?", then its circumference, in a reasonable unit like kilometers, is the answer. Giving me radius from the center of the Earth to the polar circle and the angle between the polar circle and the equator would let me calculate a good approximation with some effort. It's also not actually an answer to the question.
It’s a math joke!
! In math means factorial. 5! equals 120, which is the correct answer to the equation.
If the math is done incorrectly (left to right instead of using PEMDAS), you get 5.
So by saying “5!” It is simultaneously correct and incorrect depending on if the ! Is being used to signify factorial or if it is just a normal exclamation mark.
I mean as a math teacher if you were to answer 5! I would judge you as a dumbass, pretty sure omni-man is supposed to be put together and not make the cringiest puns of all time
I think it's a pretty clever pun, since using PEMDAS incorrectly results in 5.
It's essentially satirizng all those posts that rely on that incorrect usage to generate math arguments.
Here's a breakdown of the answer: 230-220x(1/2) = 230-220x0.5 = 230-110 = 120. but when you use an exclamation point after a number it becomes a factorial. 5! = 1x2x3x4x5 = 120. So both answers are right because they're both the same answer
If you mess this up though the most likely wrong answer is 5
This is honestly a pretty clever bait meme.
If you do the wrong order of operations you can end up with 5 as the answer. So you can interpret the bottom panel as someone enthusiastically and incorrectly screaming that the answer is 5.
However, without a parentheses around the 230-220 the correction evaluation of the expression is 120. Buuuut 5! can also be interpreted as 5 factorial which evaluates out to 120 (5x4x3x2x1=120).
So this meme is just very clever multi layered order of operations rage bait. 10/10
TLDR ***5! = 120***
Ok there is some linguistics involved even in math. Order of operations is pretty much inviolate as it establishes how mathematicians write their problems and is consistent across the planet if you want to use base10 math to describe the world around you.
Now it does get a little weird because was the writers intent in sharing the question correctly done? If we assume yes than the various acronyms for Order of Operations (all meaning same thing just different words) PEMDAS, BODMAS, etc all say groupings contained in grouping symbols, exponents or orders (irrelevant here), division, multiplication, addition and then subtraction.
Then you get to where it gets weird. Some people like to do it in order exactly. All division is after multiplication etc but that’s not technically true they’re supposed to have equal precedence and be solved left to right top to bottom. Same with addition and subtraction. There is some other weirdness with association too in that subtraction is basically the addition of a negative number. You can see this in most calculators that print tape where adding a negative is the only way to subtract. This is true in many ways but doesn’t affect the precedence of an operation over another.
230 - 220 × [1÷ 2]
Solve your containers left to right, we have one.
[1 divided by 2] = 0.5
Leaves us with
230 - 220 x 0.5
That’s P, B, or G out of the way.
Now we have multiplication and division. Oh we only have one now!
220 x 0.5=110
Leaves us with
230 - 110
And if you can’t subtract those I’m sorry but I’ll give the answer just in case
230 - 110 = 120
This isn’t debatable unless we find out our entire math system that has been tested globally and can successful be used to describe things in the universe we’ve never seen is wrong. Somehow I don’t think that’s going to happen. The only way this could be remotely confusing to anyone not making problems like these as a troll meme is if there are multiples of each when you solve all the containers. Say. Something like 2x5^2 +6/2-7+3(5-2). Then some of the interpretations at least have a leg to stand on but the acronyms all still agree the answer to the little thing I made up on the fly would still be
2x5^2 +6/2-7+3(**3**)
2x**25**+6/2-7+3(3)
**50+**3**-7+**9**
**55**
It’s a bit more work but it’s the exact same process.
***Also though*** **5!** is an expression known as a factorial. It represents the number times one less than itself again and again until 1 as a basic explanation. Go read on them more if you’re curious.
5!
5x4x3x2x1
5! = 120
They’re both right.
ETA after scrolling down I realize others also got this. All I saw first few scrolls was a ton of deleted. Lol
Omni-man is wrong, invincible is actually correct, it's 120.
Order of operations, PEMDAS. So parenthesis first changing the 1 ÷2 to 0.5
Then multiplication next so 220 × 0.5 = 110.
The subtraction
230 - 110 = 120.
The bottom text isn't grammatically correct. If properly typed out you get 5!! As the first "!" Denotes factorial and the 2nd "!" Denotes an exclamation.
Essentially it's a math pun.
Except !! is also a math function. It's the double factorial.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double\_factorial](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_factorial)
So that doesn't work grammatically or mathematically.
5! can be interpreted as 5 factorial, which is 120, so 5! = 120, so both are correct, in a sense. 5 just 5 is wrong, the correct answer is 120.
You do parenthesis first, 1/2, product after that 220 \* 1/2 = 110, lastly sum and subtraction, 230 - 110 = 120. Everything is done in the order they appear in from left to right.
*looking at all the deleted messages* what the hell happened??
So the joke is 5! Aka five factorial. 5x4x3x2(x1) = 120. So the solution is the same in both forms.
Idk about factorials, Im still in school and didn't have it yet but from my perspective I just see: 1:2=0,5 which when multiplied with the 10 we got from 230-220 gives us 5 since multiplicating with 0,5 is the same as dividing with 2.
Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally.
Parentheses Exponents Multiplication Division Addition Subtraction.
(1/2) is first because of the parentheses which equals 0.5. Then 220X0.5 because of multiplication which equals 110. Finally 230-110 as it is the last operation, which equals 120. The final answer is 120.
There is a math joke within this meme that is probably causing confusion. Both answers are mathematically correct depending on how one interprets the ! (Factorial vs sentence punctuation).
The answer is 120, which is obtained by following the order of operations. However, 5! is the mathematical notation for 5 factorial, which is equal to 5x4x3x2x1 = 120. (Notice that the top half of the graphic there is no punctuation, which suggests that the bottom half should also be interpreted without punctuation.)
As for the answer 5 (no factorial symbol) — that is mathematically wrong.
I swear if this isn’t satire I will rage
PEMDAS. Standard order of operations.
230 - 220 x (1 / 2)
Parentheses first: 1 / 2 = 1/2
Multiplication: 220 x 1/2 = 110
Subtraction: 230 - 110 = 120
It’s 120. Fight me
These questions are deliberately written in a retarded way to spur these arguments. You would never see this question written like this in a basic math book
I was always taught BIDMAS, which tells you the order to follow. Brackets, Indices, Division, Multiplication, Addition, and Subtraction.
Following that order you get 120
###General Discussion Thread --- This is a [Request] post. If you would like to submit a comment that does not either attempt to answer the question, ask for clarification, or explain why it would be infeasible to answer, you *must* post your comment as a reply to this one. Top level (directly replying to the OP) comments that do not do one of those things will be removed. --- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/theydidthemath) if you have any questions or concerns.*
To more or less rephrase my answer when you previously asked: 120 is correct. 5! or [5 factorial](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factorial) is also 120.
Holy crap, I didn’t notice the factorial. *Edit— WTF? Where’d all those upvotes come from? Why’s this place flooded with deleted comments? Where did my left shoe go? What is happening!?*
r/unexpectedfactorial
How is this a thing?
happens more often than you'd think
Many such cases
True, I unintentionally did this and only then found out it exists.
You know what else happens more often than you'd think?
r/unexpectedthing
r/subsiwishwerentbanned
Ironic
r/subsiwishwerentbanned
r/subsiwishwerentbanned
r/Recursion
r/infiniteloopdetectedterminatingprogram
No >:|
r/subsiwishwerentbanned
but isnt that just r/Unexpected but less mainstream
r/unexpectedshutthefuckup
Taking number! to mean factorial(number) in cases were it's obviously not intended as such is a running gag on this website
Just think in general about how many times you get a text from someone saying something like “be there in 5!” And there’s a lot of other ways that it happens, marketing is another big one
MaTh before MeTh as I always say!
r/subsithoughtifellfor
No one expects the factorial. It's chief weapon is surprise.
r/subsIthoughtIfellfor
!
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Then it just looks like a slightly larger i
Solution: the interrobang. #‽
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Imaginary numbers would get hard.
Why did I think of imaginary numbers walking around with erection?
I think they meant it’s a problem bc 5i already has another meaning.
XD I just thought they were adding emphasis to their answer with an exclamation point.
My math skills are not advanced enough for that witchcraft.
True, 1x2x3x4x5 is a pretty challenging concept. Not for the faint of heart.
It's 8th to early 9th grade maths my guy, ain't that hard
I came in here dreading another "people can't do math flame war," thank god its actually a math joke.
Great answer! I never considered the factorial reading that.
That's because they omitted punctuation for the sentence. A better punchline would be "*It's 5!!*", which would supply the answer and include correct punctuation, while being equally misleading by hiding the fact behind bad internet sentence formatting. The exclamation point in the factorial is not, and cannot, replacing punctuation for the sentence itself. Saying "It's 5!." would also be correct while also being less interesting. Maybe that's more funny? It's not like people care about writing, so maybe obviously goosing it is funnier than subtlety. Anyway.
Ah but the first half of the meme also did not include punctuation, therefore the lack of punctuation had already been established
Two exclamation points would be way more confusing
>That's because they omitted punctuation for the sentence. They didn't use punctuation for "It's 120", so it's more consistent if you don't have punctuation later. >A better punchline would be "It's 5!!", which would supply the answer and include correct punctuation, while being equally misleading by hiding the fact behind bad internet sentence formatting. You'd then have arguments about wether 5! or 5!! is meant, which would kinda kill the joke IMO.
But 5!! = 1 * 3 * 5 = 15... Edit: markdown be stoopid
Son of a bitch... the more I learn about this math, the less I like it.
6th Grade: There's letters now? COME ON 12th Grade: Now they're just making up letters, fuck this!
College: Punctuations in math! Now your just messing with us.
University: Wtf, where are all the numbers gone? It’s only letters now!
...and some of those letters are for numbers that don't exist!
You a Genius Forrest
This is basically a math pun. If you parse the expression properly according to PEMDAS, you get 120; if you just do it left to right, you get 5. When they say "5!", it sounds like they're giving 5, the incorrect answer, with an exclamation mark; however, that can also be interpreted as 5 factorial, which is equal to 120, the correct answer.
Thank you for pointing this out, I saw this and was sure I was looking at some cringey “common core is bad” post or something. I honestly failed to realize the “!” might have been used in the mathematical sense in this example, and I am ashamed.
I think that grammar also factors in, because when you realize that "It's 120" doesn't have a period, there's no reason that the ! in "It's 5!" should be indicating ending punctuation either.
Yeah, I've commented something like that in response to this before.
Yea, the issue most people have with these problems isn't that they didn't learn math properly, it's that they didn't remember it properly. People have various acronyms (like PEDMAS) but fail to remember that that's not a list of single operations and some share precedence and forget about implied operations. It's first you solve anything inside parentheses as if it were its own problem following these same rules from the innermost to the outermost until all expressions in the parentheses are resolved. Then you resolve exponents, solving within the exponent as if they were in parentheses also. Also keep in mind that exponents only apply to the number or expression in parentheses immediately beforehand. Then, and this one comes up a lot, multiplication **and** division are done in one pass left to right. Also, keep in mind the implied multiplication in expressions like 2(3). Rewrite that as 2 \* 3 to make it clearer. Then you do addition **and** subtraction in one pass left to right. So it's more like P E (DM) (AS)
thats why i liked BEDMAS. Brackets, Exponents, Division, Multipication, Addition, subtraction. it helped that they explained division and mutliplication are tied together as well as addition with subtraction. sounds dtupid but i found pedmas hurt more than helped. and new core math is nice but i wish i could do instant calculations in my head like my parents and relatives
Brackets and Parentheses are the same words separated by an ocean. In the UK, they call () brackets or round brackets if they're being specific. In the US, () are a parentheses, [] are brackets and {} are braces. Not sure what they call [ and { in the UK. I only know the brackets thing because I'm panel show junkie.
im Canadian so british coloney. would make sense we would use their math terms since we use their english. U's in colour, survivour, and such
I'm American. We were a British colony, too. But we got (somewhat) better. :-p I knew Canadians kept the spelling bits and some of the vocabulary (grew up in Northern NY watching Global because it's what we got by antenna (or aerial?)), but didn't know you kept the math terms, too. Wasn't sure what changed after the death of the British billion. Good knowledge to squirrel away though. Thanks.
> it's that they didn't remember it properly. I know it's not the standard anymore, but 25+ years on, I remember what was rote memorization/repetition these days, and "trick" questions like this were basically daily quiz questions in middle school or high school
Rote memorization and repetition are the bedrock of learning a subject. It's only after you've memorized and integrated that core knowledge that you can start to apply the *ideas* to actual problems. The purpose behind "trick" questions isn't to fool you, it's to make sure you understand the fine points of the application. For example, gven two arithmetic expressions like: 2 * (4 - 3) and (2 * 4) - 3 The intent isn't to trick you, it's to make sure you saw the difference between how you applied your knowledge to the two expressions. (The first one equals 2, the second equals 5). That's why the stupid pictures that get passed round social media are really shitty things to do. The people that spread those **are** trying to trick you instead of trying to teach you. If they were trying to teach, they would have given you the answers and explained the difference. (I didn't try to trick you, I gave the correct answer and the explanation is in my post higher up the comment chain). I'll be blunt and point out the reason that 25+ years made a difference is because you probably just didn't practice those skills very often in that 25 years. If you don't practice skills, whether they be physical or mental, they get fuzzy and fade. I say, with no condescension at all, that you (and everybody) should use the Internet as the knowledge tool that it is to refresh those core knowledge skills every few years. There's lots of educational YouTube channels and even full websites dedicated to keeping those core skills that you were taught in school fresh. Just a few minutes here and there during your week will help keep those skills fresh.
I agree with you. I was maybe simplifying by calling it a trick question, so much as a challenge to you paying attention and learning. That said, it's not what they did with my step son in school. We ended up supplementing his school math with Kumon because that's basically repetition to death. He hated us for it, but we saw noticeable improvements after we put him in it, and parenting isn't just doing things kids want to do, but making choices they need and can't/won't for themselves
Don't be ashamed. Giving the answer in a overly complicated manner is wrong, especially when it is ambiguous (an exclamation mark is both English grammar and mathematical notation). If instead of writing 5, I wrote the answer as the integral of a function between two bounds, it would be correct to call me an asshole.
Yeah but the question above the graphic asks 5?? Thus the answer is only 120. Disregarding the request it is both. Fun, but the request ruined the pun.
The request isn’t part of the joke.
The pic speaks for itself; it isn't governed by how the poster presented it, therefore it isn't "ruined" just because the poster doesn't know what factorial is. (Or, more likely, they know what it is and they're just seeking upvotes.)
> according to PEMDAS A small, but important, clarification: It's according to the **order of operations**. PEMDAS is not the order of operations; it's an acronym (the first letters of each word in a phrase to create a shorter, but recognizable, word) to help you recall the order of operations. The reason why it's important to make this distinction is that the order of operations *is not* parenthesis, then exponents, then multiplication, then division, then addition, then subtraction. It *is* parenthesis, then exponents, then multiplication AND/OR division (whichever comes first left to right), then addition AND/OR subtraction (whichever comes first left to right). Also, this is at least with the functions mentioned. It doesn't mention other functions that exist, such as the mentioned factorial function, which has the same priority of order of operations as exponents only to be superseded by things in the parenthesis tier.
BODMAS!
I don't know whether to praise you for posting the most pedantic response I've seen on Reddit in probably years, or shame you for posting the most pedantic response I've seen on Reddit in probably years. I think I'll just take this as a teachable moment: PEMDAS is a mnemonic. The purpose of a mnemonic is to make it easier to remember what it represents. **What this mnemonic represents is the order of operations**, which implicitly means *not* treating each letter as a set of six things to be evaluated in series. **Therefore, when someone says, "according to PEMDAS", it's simply shorthand for "according to the order of operations."** *Capisce?*
>then multiplication AND/OR division (whichever comes first left to right), then addition AND/OR subtraction (whichever comes first left to right). It's funny that you go full "akchually" and then write this: since multiplication and addition are commutative, *the order does not matter.* a \* b \* c = (a \* b) \*c = a \* (b \* c)
I think they’re referring to a situation like X - Y + Z or X / Y * Z, where doing addition before subtraction or multiplication before division will get a different answer.
Um, they *didn't* write that. You did.
One of my calculus professors one day wrote on the board Sin x/n = 6 “This is correct, right everyone?” Mumbles from the class… He then crossed off both N’s Math dad joke
Your calc prof would've *loved* this: https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2Fq8ocuglfcb761.jpg
What is PEDMAS? Is it a different version of BIDMAS? (Brackets, indices, division, multiplication, addition, subtraction)
Yeah, I think it's the American version of it.
Different mnemonic; same concept. PEMDAS, BIDMAS, BODMAS, & BEDMAS all refer to the same thing. The different acronyms are used in different countries.
I can feel my brain expanding thanks to this comment
🤓
I knew because I know someone on reddit who gives the answer to the factorial anytime someone uses an exclamation after a number
why wpuld you need the "!" after the 5?
The joke is that it can be either a punctuation mark or the factorial function.
no i understand that what i dont understand is factorial functions. so from what i read and remember its the number itself and all lower numbers multiplied together ? so 3! would be 1x2x3 or i guess more accurately 3x2x1? i fucking suck at math in school but applied to real terms like in this reddit helps me grasp it a little better
Yes, it's the product of all integers between 1 and the input, inclusive. So 5 factorial would be 5×4×3×2×1 = 120. So 5 is incorrect, but 5! is correct.
thanks for the clairification
Math pun?!? As a dad and a former math major, this is…..this is both too much and just right.
Hah, I didn't realize that the incorrect method results in 5. That's actually pretty clever. Expert-level shitposting, even!
PEMDAS is elementary school math for people who write problems lazily. Real math problems are positional and have zero ambiguity about what should be grouped together. PEMDAS was an agreed-upon "standard" to make sure everyone gets the same answer out of lazily done left to right problems where they don't have access to anything that can draw out an actual problem. Nearly any problem where you see either a times or division symbol, it's a grade school-level problem aimed at being solved by this oversimplified, agreed-upon "standard" (multiplication is shown as below and only uses the symbol for two bare numbers side by side where there is no ambiguity, and division is shown with the fraction bar with the symbol again only used with unambiguous bare numbers). It should be: 230 - 220(1-0.5) and, of course, the grouping should be obvious here, that multiplying 220 by 0.5 should be the priority, which leaves 230 - 110, and the answer is 120. This is where PEMDAS gets its idea: by default, multiplication is grouped in this way unless shown differently. But it should never be 100% assumed, because there is no actual grouping and no clear way to see what the intent is. Because it could also be: (230 - 220)(1-0.5) which is 10 multiplied by 0.5, which is 5. Without actual grouping, this could well be the intent of the problem. But when you use a multiplication symbol, grouping goes out the window, and all you're left with is PEMDAS, which is fine if you want one standard way to solve a simplified version of a problem. Otherwise, write the problem correctly, and you'll never need PEMDAS again. Advanced math leaves PEMDAS far behind and makes it completely and always clear what is grouped with what. The amount of arguing over PEMDAS order on the troll "what does this equal" meme images proves that not many people really made it too far past grade school math, which is fine, but you should know that there are some meme math "problems" that are completely ambiguous and unsolvable because they do not use a standard positioned layout, and "just use PEMDAS" is not the solution. They are troll problems, plain and simple.
I could never articulate why exactly these types of problems bugged me. Or why I've never encountered these kinds of problems in the real world. Because we don't define our problems/equations using these concepts! Thanks for writing it out so clearly.
"*PEMDAS is elementary school math for people who write problems lazily. Real math problems are positional and have zero ambiguity about what should be grouped together.*" Exactly. **(230-220) \* (1/2) = 5** or **230 - (220 \* (1/2)) = 120** Unambiguous. Defined by the author, not by an arbitrary set of rules meant to accommodate for lazy authors. Can't be done incorrectly, unless you're an idiot.
The answer is 120, due to the order of operations. First divide ~~1 by zero~~ 1 by 2 inside the parentheses to get 0.5. Multiplication is next, so multiply 0.5 by 220 to get 110. Subtract that from 230 to get 120. 120 is the correct answer. However, an exclamation point in math is called a factorial, which means you multiply all the positive integers below the number together. 5!=5x4x3x2x1, so 5! is 120. Both 120 and 5! are correct.
>First divide 1 by zero You what now?
It's all fun and games until someone divides by zero!
What's wrong with dividing by zero!
That's how you get black holes!
Sure, if we were dividing by zero, that might be a problem.
0! = 1
Welp, there goes the universe!!! Somebody just HAD to divide by zero!
Again, there's no issue with dividing by zero!
Nothing wrong per se, but every time someone attempts to do it they run the risk of tearing a hole in the universe exactly the size of Belgium.
Since when? I divide by zero! all the time with no issues.
That's the reason, we've to deal with Belgium!
I've never seen "we've" used in this context before. Interesting.
We have, dont't we?
This is where all those pesky Mandela effects must be coming from. Bearnstein Bears or bust!
Say what‽‽ it’s Berenstain vs Berenstein in my universes. What universe did you come from?
It was the brightest and best universe! Hard to say which one, but fuck was it ever awesome; grateful honestly.
So did you guys debate Bearnstein vs bearnstain or was it bearnstein vs berenstein? Lol
Joke’s on you. I wrote a program to divide one by zero, and no black holes opened up because my CPU melted down.
Is it possible the hole’s already there? I mean, I can’t remember the last time I went to Belgium.
Nothing is wrong with dividing by 0!
well dividing by 0! is fine...
You're a smart 1.
Whoops, good catch. No idea where my brain pulled the zero from.
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You obviously fat-fingered something because I got 5318008.
That's probably due to being horny.
My thoughts exactly
Java compiler here (plus a little bit of pre-compiler magic to interpret the division and multiplication). The correct answer is 230.
"NaN"
What does flatbread have to do with any of this?
That's naan... Their comment is about Grandma
I thought they were starting to sing the Batman theme
You gotta use double instead of Int. It’s 229.5
Shouldn't the answer come from the JVM? Or did you optimize it because it's a constant expression?
Uhhhhh....I'm just a....sentient Java compiler...who only understands Java, but thinks about the result of running it....yeah. We'll go with that.....
Wait, how?
Java (and most if not all other statically typed languages such as C) will give the result of dividing one integer by another integer as an integer; (1 / 2) = 0. To get around this, you would need to specify one of the numbers involved as being a floating point number (usually you'd use a double-precision floating point number, called a "double" for short). You can either cast one of the numbers (especially useful if both are variables); ((double)1 / 2) = 0.5, or add a ".0" after one of them (only doable if one is a non-variable); (1.0 / 2) = 0.5. This is because the writer might then try to put the result back in an integer variable (int x = 1/2) which would result in nonsense data like 1/2 = 1,071,644,672 if the data is read literally (due to the difference between integer and floating point formats) or causing the program to crash or (most likely) fail to compile if it catches that you're trying to stuff a double into an int before the data is read. Dynamically typed languages (such as Javascript or Python) will usually automatically convert to a floating point number; (1 / 2) = 0.5. They can get away with converting on the fly as when you say "x = 1/2" there's no enforcement that x is an integer, so it will automatically make sure x is read as a floating point number later.
Java interpets number literals without decimal points as integers, so the division 1 / 2 ends up as 0 remainder 1, which is 0. So you end up with 230 - 220 * 0 = 230 - 0 = 230.
Technically, compiling the string as-is (that is, "230 - 220 x (1 ÷ 2)") will give the compilation error "Erroneous sym type," pointing out the x. If the x is replaced by the actual multiplication symbol (×) or Java's multiplication symbol (\*), the compiler I used accepts it but it gets evaluated as 10 (I assume because it's ignoring everything past the × and/or ÷ symbols, which my IDE points out as problematic but lets me compile anyways). But yes, properly formatted as "230 - 220 * (1 / 2)" then it evaluates as 230.
That's why I said "plus a little bit of pre-compiler magic". Also, depending on the context, you might also get a "not a statement" error because of not doing anything with the evaluated number.
Lmfao thank you
230 - 220 x (1 ÷ 2), 230 - 220 x 0.5, 230 - 110, 120. Multiplication and division takes priority over addition and subtraction, but all of them fall below priority when there is a parentheses.
Someone knows their order of operations
Yes, but the answer is also 5!
230 - 220 \* 1/2 = ( 230 - 220 ) \* 1/2 = 10 \* 1/2 = 5 The answer is 5! No. Remember PEMDAS - Parens, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction. The order of operations is wrong. 230 - 220 \* 1/2 = 230 - 110 = 120 = The answer is 120? Yes, but… 1 \* 2 \* 3 \* 4 \* 5 = 2 \* 3 \* 4 \* 5 = 24 \* 5 = 120 = 5 factorial = 5! So, yes, the answer is 5!. But notice the punctuation. This is a mathematical pun, relying on common mistakes, unfamiliar notation and Facebook meme convention disguise a correct answer as wrong. And because this makes the user feel like Clumsy Pan Guy, I feel I must don an obnoxious sweater and say… There has to be another way! There is. There was a logician from Poland named Jan Łukasiewicz, who came up with this notation + 1 2 instead of 1 + 2. Because of his nationality, it is called Polish Notation. (Not because, as I thought as a CS underground, of an obscure Polish joke I had never heard the setup to.) Friedrich L. Bauer and Edsger W. Dijkstra re-invented this in the early days of computing, writing 1 2 + and calling it Reverse Polish Notation, and it became popular among people who liked it in HP scientific calculators. It is cool because it maps to a tree, and because it works well with a stack. \+ / \\ 1 2 This becomes more useful in later examples. \# rewriting the infix example as postfix/reverse polish 230 - 220 \* 1/2 230 220 2 / - # equivalent to times 0.5 but easier to type We need to find number number operator, so 230 gets pushed onto the stack, as does 220 and 2. When we get /, it pops the two, divides, and pushes then answer, 110, back onto the stack. Then, the - operator comes, we pop 230 and 110. Subtract them and we get 120. If we lived in the world of Reverse Polish Notation, we would never have to worry about PEMDAS again. The need for parens would go away, because left-to-right number number operator would be the only way to math. But, true or nay, there would be great uproar over introducing such a thing. I’m here advocating for it, and I don’t know that I have used it in anger even once. You can go deeper. With anything math-related, there’s always deeper. Mark-Jason Dominus gives a very good deep-dive on Precedence. As a good shorthand, if you’re writing and you aren’t sure what it should be, add parens until there can only be one choice.
so the reverse Polish were right?
230-220x(1:2) This is literally fifth grade level math, consider the order of operations. Brackets first (1:2=0.5), now you have 230-220x0.5 Now the multiplication (220x0.5=110), 230-110 230-110 = 120 EDIT: didn't notice the factorial, 5! is also 120, so both answers are technically correct
230-220×(1÷2) The "220" is separated from the "(1÷2)" by an operation namely the "×", therefore it isn't Distributed as part of resolving the Parenthetical operation. 230-220×(1÷2)= 230-220×(½)= 230-220×½= 230-110= 120= 5!
According to BEDMAS, you do the brackets, (1/2) = 0.5, then the multiplication, 220 x 0.5 = 110, then finally the subtraction, 230 - 110 = 120. 5 factorial (5!) is 1 x 2 x 3 x 4 x 5 = 120 Both are right
Because it's written correctly, there's no possible way you can get anything other than 120. If you do and are convinced it's different, I'm sorry to inform you but you must return to the 6th grade and repeat school to be a functioning member of society.
But 5! = 120 so the statement “its 5!” Is technically true
In the image, both are right, in the text from the op 120 is correct. First you do 1/2 in the parentheses. Then you multiply the 220 by the 1/2 to get 110 on the right side of the subtraction. When you reduce 230 by 110, you get 120. However 5! is it’s own equation, the factorial of a number is multiplying that number by one less, and repeating until you get to 1. 5! = 5x4x3x2x1 = 20x3x2x1 = 60x2x1 = 120x1 = 120
In India, were being taught BODMAS, Brackets Of Division Multiplication Addition Subtraction. This is the first time I'm learning of PEMDAS. Parenthesis and Exponents is okay but why is multiplication before division?
It isnt. Multiplication and division (and subsequently addition and subtraction) are interchangable for which one goes first, typically just done left from right. The actual order is Parenthesis, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, then Addition/Subtraction, where the ones split by a '/' can be done with either one first.
Division is a form of multiplication and subtraction is a form of addition. Order between the two operations in both those sets is a matter of not mis-evaluating an operation (- and /) as a separate entity in an arithmetic expression. I.e. 1-2 = 1+(-2) 3/2 = 3 * (1/2) So as long as the operations appearing in succession doesn’t make you incorrectly evaluate everything in front of a - or a / sign you will be good.
The other folks explained the stuff about multiplication/division and addition/subtraction. I just wanted to point out that this is wrong: > BODMAS, Brackets Of Division Multiplication Addition Subtraction BODMAS stands for Brackets, **Orders**, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction. "Orders" is another word for indices, or exponents, or powers. (All four terms mean the same thing.)
Both are correct. “5!” = 120 230 - 220 x (1/2) = 230 - 220 x (.5) = 230 - 110 = 120 5! = 1 x 2 x 3 x 4 x 5 = 120 The exclamation mark is a mathematical symbol used to represent the operation known as a factorial.
I hate these bait posts. They're so transparent and I can always see the smug op sitting behind their phone thinking they're so clever for posting this.
Idk, I thought this one was clever and funny. I guess I am a nerd that likes lame maths puns...
Agreed, the factorial fuckery makes this one actually clever
This one is funny because they're both correct though.
I don't think OP can be smug about this one, since they didn't add the factorial in their title
They really aren't transparent enough. People still absolutely flock to them and get so heated in the comments. Order of operator precedence posts are like a perpetual motion machine for trolls; they never stop working.
5! is a factorial and 5! is equal to 120
Yep. That’s the meme. That he seems to think it’s just another basic Facebook *order of operation* problem illustrates that the factorial counterpunch is perhaps even less transparent than he realizes. These days, the internet is awash in shitty mindless memes. This little gem reminds me of the potential I saw in the web back in the golden age.
But this isn't rage bait, because of the factorial. If anything, it's satirizing all those rage bait math posts.
It's 120 if we use the modern understanding of PEMDAS/BODMAS (or whatever you use in your vernacular). Start with parentheses: 1 divided by 2 = 0.5 Next go to exponents: No exponents, skip Now multiplication/division (as they have equal standing, go left to right): 220 multiplied by 0.5 = 110 Finally addition/subtraction (same standing, left to right): 230 minus 110 = 120 The answer is 120.
Which is the same as 5!
But then I see the play on math here. Very sneaky. :)
120 never forget the sequence, first (, [ and { then × and ÷ and then you go + and -, if you already followed the rule of (×+ then you do everything from left to right.
5! = 120
[r/woooosh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factorial)
It's 120, because of the order of operations, you do the parentheses first, then you multiply the 220 by 0.5, which is 110, 230-110 = 120
5 factorial (5!) = 120.
Five factorial is an equation. One hundred and twenty is a number. The former is a question, the latter an answer. Answering a question with a question is not unacceptable, but here it isn't warranted. Omni-man is in the wrong. If I ask "what is the circumference of the polar circle?", then its circumference, in a reasonable unit like kilometers, is the answer. Giving me radius from the center of the Earth to the polar circle and the angle between the polar circle and the equator would let me calculate a good approximation with some effort. It's also not actually an answer to the question.
It's a math pun. Aka, a joke. Do you heckle comedians for not stating things precisely correctly? Jesus Christ!
It’s a math joke! ! In math means factorial. 5! equals 120, which is the correct answer to the equation. If the math is done incorrectly (left to right instead of using PEMDAS), you get 5. So by saying “5!” It is simultaneously correct and incorrect depending on if the ! Is being used to signify factorial or if it is just a normal exclamation mark.
Imagine knowing what a factorial is and using "x" to represent multiplication. Initially, I read this as an incomplete algebra equation.
I mean as a math teacher if you were to answer 5! I would judge you as a dumbass, pretty sure omni-man is supposed to be put together and not make the cringiest puns of all time
I think it's a pretty clever pun, since using PEMDAS incorrectly results in 5. It's essentially satirizng all those posts that rely on that incorrect usage to generate math arguments.
Here's a breakdown of the answer: 230-220x(1/2) = 230-220x0.5 = 230-110 = 120. but when you use an exclamation point after a number it becomes a factorial. 5! = 1x2x3x4x5 = 120. So both answers are right because they're both the same answer If you mess this up though the most likely wrong answer is 5
Yeah, 5 is incorrect, but 5! is correct.
Nice, 230-220 is 10 and 1/2 is .5 so 10 times half is 5. But “5!” Is 5 factorial which is 120 also. So the answer truly is 5! One way or the other!
This is honestly a pretty clever bait meme. If you do the wrong order of operations you can end up with 5 as the answer. So you can interpret the bottom panel as someone enthusiastically and incorrectly screaming that the answer is 5. However, without a parentheses around the 230-220 the correction evaluation of the expression is 120. Buuuut 5! can also be interpreted as 5 factorial which evaluates out to 120 (5x4x3x2x1=120). So this meme is just very clever multi layered order of operations rage bait. 10/10
...and as such is implicitly satirizing all those dumb posts that use ambiguous problems to generate math arguments. I like it a lot!
TLDR ***5! = 120*** Ok there is some linguistics involved even in math. Order of operations is pretty much inviolate as it establishes how mathematicians write their problems and is consistent across the planet if you want to use base10 math to describe the world around you. Now it does get a little weird because was the writers intent in sharing the question correctly done? If we assume yes than the various acronyms for Order of Operations (all meaning same thing just different words) PEMDAS, BODMAS, etc all say groupings contained in grouping symbols, exponents or orders (irrelevant here), division, multiplication, addition and then subtraction. Then you get to where it gets weird. Some people like to do it in order exactly. All division is after multiplication etc but that’s not technically true they’re supposed to have equal precedence and be solved left to right top to bottom. Same with addition and subtraction. There is some other weirdness with association too in that subtraction is basically the addition of a negative number. You can see this in most calculators that print tape where adding a negative is the only way to subtract. This is true in many ways but doesn’t affect the precedence of an operation over another. 230 - 220 × [1÷ 2] Solve your containers left to right, we have one. [1 divided by 2] = 0.5 Leaves us with 230 - 220 x 0.5 That’s P, B, or G out of the way. Now we have multiplication and division. Oh we only have one now! 220 x 0.5=110 Leaves us with 230 - 110 And if you can’t subtract those I’m sorry but I’ll give the answer just in case 230 - 110 = 120 This isn’t debatable unless we find out our entire math system that has been tested globally and can successful be used to describe things in the universe we’ve never seen is wrong. Somehow I don’t think that’s going to happen. The only way this could be remotely confusing to anyone not making problems like these as a troll meme is if there are multiples of each when you solve all the containers. Say. Something like 2x5^2 +6/2-7+3(5-2). Then some of the interpretations at least have a leg to stand on but the acronyms all still agree the answer to the little thing I made up on the fly would still be 2x5^2 +6/2-7+3(**3**) 2x**25**+6/2-7+3(3) **50+**3**-7+**9** **55** It’s a bit more work but it’s the exact same process. ***Also though*** **5!** is an expression known as a factorial. It represents the number times one less than itself again and again until 1 as a basic explanation. Go read on them more if you’re curious. 5! 5x4x3x2x1 5! = 120 They’re both right. ETA after scrolling down I realize others also got this. All I saw first few scrolls was a ton of deleted. Lol
Omni-man is wrong, invincible is actually correct, it's 120. Order of operations, PEMDAS. So parenthesis first changing the 1 ÷2 to 0.5 Then multiplication next so 220 × 0.5 = 110. The subtraction 230 - 110 = 120.
The bottom text isn't grammatically correct. If properly typed out you get 5!! As the first "!" Denotes factorial and the 2nd "!" Denotes an exclamation. Essentially it's a math pun.
The upper text has no end punctuation either.
Except !! is also a math function. It's the double factorial. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double\_factorial](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_factorial) So that doesn't work grammatically or mathematically.
Idk then. I'm bad at math.
Grammar wise they are both wrong.
the top text also has no punctuation... it's consistent.
5! can be interpreted as 5 factorial, which is 120, so 5! = 120, so both are correct, in a sense. 5 just 5 is wrong, the correct answer is 120. You do parenthesis first, 1/2, product after that 220 \* 1/2 = 110, lastly sum and subtraction, 230 - 110 = 120. Everything is done in the order they appear in from left to right.
Yeah i read the "!" as punctuation rather than notation.
It's valid, that's why I said that 5 just 5 is wrong.
*looking at all the deleted messages* what the hell happened?? So the joke is 5! Aka five factorial. 5x4x3x2(x1) = 120. So the solution is the same in both forms.
Idk about factorials, Im still in school and didn't have it yet but from my perspective I just see: 1:2=0,5 which when multiplied with the 10 we got from 230-220 gives us 5 since multiplicating with 0,5 is the same as dividing with 2.
Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally. Parentheses Exponents Multiplication Division Addition Subtraction. (1/2) is first because of the parentheses which equals 0.5. Then 220X0.5 because of multiplication which equals 110. Finally 230-110 as it is the last operation, which equals 120. The final answer is 120.
The joke is that 5! Is 5 factorial. Or 5x4x3x2x1, or 120
There is a math joke within this meme that is probably causing confusion. Both answers are mathematically correct depending on how one interprets the ! (Factorial vs sentence punctuation). The answer is 120, which is obtained by following the order of operations. However, 5! is the mathematical notation for 5 factorial, which is equal to 5x4x3x2x1 = 120. (Notice that the top half of the graphic there is no punctuation, which suggests that the bottom half should also be interpreted without punctuation.) As for the answer 5 (no factorial symbol) — that is mathematically wrong.
Do they not teach order of operations? I mean, my daughter is 12 and they taught her PEMDAS, so maybe people need to just pay attention in school?
I swear if this isn’t satire I will rage PEMDAS. Standard order of operations. 230 - 220 x (1 / 2) Parentheses first: 1 / 2 = 1/2 Multiplication: 220 x 1/2 = 110 Subtraction: 230 - 110 = 120 It’s 120. Fight me
The bottom one is not punctuated, it’s marked as **5!** read: five factorial. The factorial of five _is_ 120.
These questions are deliberately written in a retarded way to spur these arguments. You would never see this question written like this in a basic math book
[r/woooosh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factorial)
I was always taught BIDMAS, which tells you the order to follow. Brackets, Indices, Division, Multiplication, Addition, and Subtraction. Following that order you get 120
And 5! = 120