Basic Equation but with Box Brackets

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the calculation involving box brackets and parentheses, specifically the formula 207559*0.5*[(1.10)1.5-1]. The user struggles with the correct interpretation and execution of this formula in Excel, leading to confusion over the use of different types of brackets. The correct approach is to evaluate the expression from the innermost brackets outward, with Excel recognizing only parentheses for calculations. The user successfully reformulated the expression to 207559*0.5*((1.1)*1.5-1), yielding a result of 67456.675.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic mathematical operations (addition, multiplication, subtraction)
  • Familiarity with Excel formulas and functions
  • Knowledge of mathematical notation, including parentheses and brackets
  • Basic grasp of order of operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS)
NEXT STEPS
  • Learn how to use Excel's FLOOR function for rounding down values
  • Explore the concept of order of operations in mathematics
  • Research the differences between various types of brackets in mathematical expressions
  • Practice creating and evaluating complex formulas in Excel
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for students, educators, and professionals who need to perform complex calculations in Excel, particularly those who encounter confusion with mathematical notation and order of operations.

EE Nicole
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
TL;DR
Its really the box brackets together with regular brackets which are giving me issues. Its making it impossible for me to wrap my head around it. Excel and calculators aren't getting it either, although I'm sure its not too difficult. If you could show me how to work it out myself that would be amazing. Thank you
This may be very simple but I'm having trouble working it out and the calculator isn't giveing me the result I need.
Below is the example calculation:
1020000*0.5*[(1.10)1.5-1]= 78382

Here is the one I am having trouble working on
207559*0.5*[(1.10)1.5-1]=

If someone could also show me how to figure it out that would be amazing because I need to use variations of this formula for other numbers.

Thanks you!
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
I observe rewriting it as
=207559*0.5*((1.1)*1.5-1) or =207559*0.5*(1.1*1.5-1)
is successful in Excel to give
67456.675
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: EE Nicole
EE Nicole said:
Summary:: Its really the box brackets together with regular brackets which are giving me issues. Its making it impossible for me to wrap my head around it. Excel and calculators aren't getting it either, although I'm sure its not too difficult. If you could show me how to work it out myself that would be amazing. Thank you

This may be very simple but I'm having trouble working it out and the calculator isn't giveing me the result I need.
Below is the example calculation:
1020000*0.5*[(1.10)1.5-1]= 78382

Here is the one I am having trouble working on
207559*0.5*[(1.10)1.5-1]=

If someone could also show me how to figure it out that would be amazing because I need to use variations of this formula for other numbers.

Thanks you!
If you meant ##207559\cdot 0.5 \cdot [(1.10)\cdot 1.5\,-\,1]## then it is always from the most inner bracket to the most outer. The most inner bracket of your example has only the purpose to distinguish ##(1.10)## in this linear notation from ##1.5##. Otherwise we won't know where the former ends and the latter begins. The form of brackets in this context is only to make it easier to read. Inside out is the key, not the form.

However, there is a second possibility here. It could be meant that the first factor is either ##1.10## or ##1.5##, or any value in between. This can't be said without context.

The form of brackets can also mean something completely different. E.g. ##[A,B]## means a certain operation in linear algebra, and another one in group theory. This is not the case here, so your rule remains: inside-out.
 
EE Nicole said:
Its really the box brackets together with regular brackets which are giving me issues. Its making it impossible for me to wrap my head around it. Excel and calculators aren't getting it either, although I'm sure its not too difficult.
In mathematics, different kinds of bracketing symbols are used: parentheses - (), brackets - [], braces - {}, angle brackets - <>. However, Excel and most calculators recognize only parentheses to the best of my knowledge.
 
Different brackets are used to avoid ambiguity in pairing.
 
mathman said:
Different brackets are used to avoid ambiguity in pairing.
But not in Excel, or in many calculators.
 
There are places where [ ] means rounding down to an integer. We really can't tell without context. ##\lfloor x \rfloor## is a preferred (less ambiguous) notation for that, and Excel will know that as FLOOR(x).
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
4K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
6K