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Mistic@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago

We teach the fundamentals

Sure. They are, however, not the focus. At least that’s not how I’ve been taught in school. You’re not teaching kids how to prove the quadratic formula, do you?

They only teach order of operations.

Again, with the order of operations. It’s not a thing. I’ve given you two examples that don’t follow any that are correct.

The constructivist learners…

That’s kinda random, but sure?

And many proofs of other rules…

They all derive from each other. Even those fundamental properties are. For example, commutation is used to prove identity.

But the order you apply operators does matter

2+2-2 = 4-2 = 2+0 = 0

2 operators, no order followed.

If we take your example

2+3×4 then it’s not an order of operation that plays the role here. You have no property that would allow for (2+3)×4 to be equal 2+3×4

Notably you picked…

It literally has subtraction and distribution. I thought you taught math, no?

2-2 is 2 being, hear me out, subtracted from 2

Same with 2×(2-2), I can distribute the value so it becomes 4-4

No addition? Who cares, subtraction literally works the same, but in opposite direction. Same properties apply. Would you feel better if I wrote (2-2) as (1+1-2)? I think not.

Also, can you explain how is that cherry-picking? You only need one equation that is solvable out of order to prove order of operation not existing. One is conclusive enough. If I give you two or more, it doesn’t add anything meaningful.

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