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• SmartmanApps@programming.dev ⁨20⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

  But +, -, *, and / are all binary operators?

  No, only multiply and divide are. 2+3 is really +2+3, but we don’t write the first plus usually.

  As far as I know, the only reason multiplication and division come first is that we’ve all agreed to it.

  No, they come first because you get wrong answers if you don’t do them first. e.g. 2+3x4=14, not 20. All the rules of Maths exist to make sure you get correct answers. Multiplication is defined as repeated addition - 3x4=3+3+3+3 - hence wrong answers if you do the addition first (just changed the multiplicand, and hence the answer). Ditto for exponents, which are defined as repeated multiplication, a^2=(axa). Order of operations is the process of reducing everything down to adds and subtracts on a number line.

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  • AbidanYre@lemmy.world ⁨18⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

    Typical examples of binary operations are the addition ( + {\displaystyle +}) and multiplication ( × {\displaystyle \times }) of numbers and matrices

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    • SmartmanApps@programming.dev ⁨17⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

      Very confidently getting basic facts wrong doesn’t inspire confidence in the rest of your comments.

      …says person quoting Wikipedia and NOT a Maths textbook! 😂

      Your example still doesn’t give a reason why 2 + 3 * 4 is 2 + 3 + 3 + 3 +3

      Yes it does., need to work on your comprehension…

      Multiplication is defined as repeated addition - 3x4=3+3+3+3

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      other than that we all agree to it

      You can disagree as much as you want and 3x4 will still be defined as 3+3+3+3. It’s been that way ever since Multiplication was invented.

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      • AbidanYre@lemmy.world ⁨17⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

        The arithmetic operations, addition + , subtraction − , multiplication × , and division ÷

        That better? Or you can find one you like all by yourself: duckduckgo.com/?q=binary+operator&ko=-1&ia=web

        Yes it does., need to work on your comprehension…

        And you can shove the condescension up your ass until you understand the difference between unary and binary operators.

        But to original point. I’m not disagreeing with anything and you’re proving my point for me. There is no fundamental law of the universe that says multiplication comes first. It’s defined by man and agreed to. If we encounter aliens someday, the area of their triangles are still going to be half the width times the height, the ratios of their circles circumference to diameter are still going to be pi, regardless of how they represent those values. But they could very well prioritize addition and subtraction over multiplication and division.

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