eli5: how did PEMDAS came to be? what decided this order and rule?

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like how does it make sense? why is it correct compared to just solving equations left to right? what are some scenarios that prove PEMDAS to be the absolute truth and necessity? @_@

In: Mathematics

10 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

PEMDAS is a convention for *writing* mathematical equations. There is nothing better or worse about it. People long ago decided equations looked cleaner that way.

P has to be first because it overrides all the other orders. Putting MD before AS is something you learn in junior high. It makes coefficients and like terms look cleaner. So, where does E go… they just decided to put it there.

The main point of the exercises in math courses is that you have to learn how to *read the equation with the same convention that was used to write it*.

It’s not meant to be confusing. Later on, if something looks ambiguous, then parentheses will be added to clarify. It’s not meant to be a “trick”.

Without PEMDAS, you’d need parentheses everywhere. Equations would look ugly.

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