Friday 20 March 2009

Brackets

Brackets are really useful in maths. They tell you to work out the things inside the brackets before you do anything else with it. If you forget what the brackets mean then remind yourself with simple numbers. Take, for example, the numbers 2,3 and 4. Put a multiplication sign before the first two numbers and a plus sign between the second two. You end up with 2x3+4=?

Now if you multiply first you end up with 6+4=10. If you add first you end up with 2x7=14. You have the same numbers, the same signs and differenct answers. This is where brackets comes in. Mathematics is very precise. We can't have different answers, as both can't be right.

Very simply and concisely, because maths is very concise, (2x3)+4=10 and 2x(3+4)=14. This is why I like maths. As long as you know the principle, in this case work out the brackets first, then you know how to work the numbers. You may make a mistake but check it and you may find your mistake. You don't have to read novels or spend hours on revision notes. As soon as you grasp a concept you can go on to the next one.

That sums it up

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