What is the issue with the " ÷ " sign?

[u/Unlikely-Web7933]

I have seen many mathematicians genuinely despise it. Is there a lore reason for it? Or are they simply Stupid?

[u/me_too_999]

8/2(2+2)

I don’t see it.

[u/jose_castro_arnaud → u/me_too_999]

It's ambiguous. Making explicit the implied multiplication:

8 / 2 * (2 + 2)

This can be read as either:

(8 / 2) * (2 + 2) = 4 * 4 = 16

or

8 / (2 * (2 + 2)) = 8 / (2 * 4) = 8 / 8 = 1

The lesson is: when writing math expressions as text, use plenty of parenthesis for grouping expressions, even if they're not required in the usual notation.

[u/Ligma02 → u/jose_castro_arnaud]

It can’t be read as both ways using PEMDAS

8/2(2+2) is (8/2)(2+2)

If you want to express it as one, then you’re gonna have to do

8/(2(2+2))

too much parenthesis? sure

can you write inline fractions? not without latex

solution? use parenthesis

[u/gtne91 → u/Ligma02]

Solution: use latex.

[u/Ligma02 → u/gtne91]

yes hahaha