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10.4: Be aware of a Calculator widget bug
This is not necessarily a bug, it is the way it is supposed to work. If you pick up any calculator and type 1 + 2 * 3 you will always get 9. In fact, in my personal opinion, I think the other way is a bug, because it assumes that I always want to multiply, or divide, before I want to add or subtract.
10.4: Be aware of a Calculator widget bug
No, this is clearly a bug. At one time Apple attempted to finesse it by having the standard order of operands work properly in "scientific" mode, but this incorrect left-to-right order (i.e., not recognizing the operator precedence that everyone (should have) learned in junior high, if not earlier) in "basic" mode. Other than cheap-o $5 models, any decent calculator will get the precedence correct. Why should a Dashboard widget on a $500 - $2500 computer imitate the mathematical errors of a $5 calculator knock-off? Sorry, I'm not interested in a flame war, but I cannot see the justification.
In any event, this hint is very helpful, as the lack of consistency is arguably even worse than having it incorrect. Thanks.
10.4: Be aware of a Calculator widget bug
Different calculators behave differently, even in the physical world. As you said, $5 cheap-o calculators have always worked this way. To me, that's exactly what the calculator widget is supposed to be modeling. And the calculator shows the intermediate results, so you ought not be surprised with your final answer.
10.4: Be aware of a Calculator widget bug
Actually, I have a fairly expensive TI graphing calculator that when I enter the proplem in that order always gives me the answer of 9. Assuming that this was a written out problem then yes the answer should be 7, but when you enter it into a calculator it will always to the math the order in which you enter it. Which would mean it does the addition first then the multiplication. Every calculator I have ever used does it this way. The calculator in Windows even does it this way. So the way I see it, if every calculator, since there were calculators, has done it a certain way, then that is the correct way.
10.4: Be aware of a Calculator widget bug
Right. Notice that, using the problem in the original post, when you hit the "x" the screen displays"3" from the previous 1+2 operation.
10.4: Be aware of a Calculator widget bug
In fact, the Windows calculator behaves differently whether it's in basic or scientific mode. Basic mode ignores operation precedence and scientific mode follows it, just like real world basic and scientific calculators do.
10.4: Be aware of a Calculator widget bug
Sorry, but you're wrong. I just pulled out both my TI-35X and TI-85 (can't believe the batteries still work after ten years) and both give 7, which is the correct answer.
10.4: Be aware of a Calculator widget bug
I don't know, but I think the problem is that two different methods of inputing the numbers are being talked about. In other words, if you input "1 + 2" and hit enter (or equals) you get "3". Then if you hit '*3' you get "9". But if you input "1 + 2 * 3" all on the same line and then hit enter you get "7", because it follows the standard order of operations. I think this is where the misunderstanding is coming from on the Ti calculators. I'm not sure about the Mac, since I don't have one in front of me right now.
10.4: Be aware of a Calculator widget bug
You keep saying this, and you don't seem to realize that it's irrelevant.
Order of operations
"Mathematics is not open to debate or your personal preference. Order of operations is correct, left to right is wrong. Period."
Order of operations
No, order of operations was not determined arbitrarily. It has to do with getting accurate answers. Since multiplication is repeated addition, it MUST be done before simple addition or you will get an incorrect answer and your bridge will collapse, your engine explode, etc.
10.4: Be aware of a Calculator widget bug
What everyone is ignoring here is that operations entered into the calculator app (both the stand-alone app and Dashboard widget versions) are not entered "left-to-right". They are entered "first-to-last", separated chronologically, not spatially. When you write out a problem on a piece of paper like this:
you are able to view the entire problem at once and determine the correct order of operations. On the other hand, what if I walked up to you and said "Quick, what's one plus three?" and then after you'd answered "4", I continued with "...times two?" How would you know if I meant 1 + 3 * 2 or (1 + 3) * 2? In that situation, you'd most likely assume the latter, and so does a calculator that shows only one value at a time. The reason graphing calculators get it right isn't because they are more expensive. It's because you enter the entire formula, which is shown on the screen as you enter it, before you hit "equals".
10.4: Be aware of a Calculator widget bug
All discussion aside. if this is a math rule OR even if it is a convention then in both instances 'every' calculator should follow this, wether convention or math rule. Because less educated people (or young children) might learn it wrong or actually think that 1+2x3=9. Imagine tax-institutions using this kind of calculus to get your tax cut (would you rather pay $7.- or $9.-) :-))
10.4: Be aware of a Calculator widget bug
I agree with you here, it's a bug.
10.4: Be aware of a Calculator widget bug
No, this is a bug. Mathematical order of operations does not change because some insanely poorly done calculator doesn't support it, or because you don't like it. Math such as this is not open to debate or preference - it is wrong, and should be fixed.
10.4: Be aware of a Calculator widget bug
This is not a bug. As has been said before it behaves like all $5 calculators that calculate numbers as they are given. Cheap calculators do not remember long equation strings they only deal with opertations between two numbers at a time. When you enter this equation into a cheap calculator, it can only deal with numbers in the order that they are given so 1 + 2 = 3 then 3 x 3 = 9. This is fairly obvious and has always been the way cheap calculators work. If you want a more advanced calculator then you pay for it. Here you can just use the actual app. That said, this behavior is very easily noticed, there's no way that Apple could have accidentally missed this behavior if it was not intended.
10.4: Be aware of a Calculator widget bug
Actually with a cheap $5 calculator, you cannot enter a complex calculation and have it evaluate the entire calculation at once. Such calculators are only capable of evaluating two operands with a single operator. So it's not possible to enter 1 + 2 * 3.
10.4: Be aware of a Calculator widget bug
I believe it works like the old skool CPA calculators (The ones with the little receipt rolls), you have all seen them.
To those who still think 1+2x3=9
Those who think 1+2x3=9 probably hated math in school because they thought it was a purely abstract subject. Well, maths ARE the real world. |
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