Basic Equation but with Box Brackets

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the interpretation and calculation of an equation involving box brackets and parentheses. Participants explore the challenges faced when using these symbols in mathematical expressions, particularly in the context of using Excel and calculators. The scope includes mathematical reasoning and conceptual clarification regarding notation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses difficulty in calculating an equation involving box brackets and parentheses, seeking help to understand the process.
  • Another participant suggests rewriting the equation in a different format to clarify the calculation, providing a specific numerical result.
  • A participant notes that the use of box brackets in conjunction with parentheses is causing confusion and complicating calculations in Excel and calculators.
  • There is a discussion about the purpose of different types of brackets in mathematics, with some participants indicating that parentheses are primarily recognized by Excel and calculators.
  • Some participants mention that different brackets can indicate different operations, and without context, the meaning can be ambiguous.
  • One participant points out that in certain contexts, box brackets may imply rounding down to an integer, suggesting that notation can vary significantly based on the mathematical context.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the interpretation of brackets, with no consensus reached on the best approach to clarify the original equation. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of using different types of brackets.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations in understanding due to the ambiguity of bracket notation and the varying recognition of these symbols in different software tools. The discussion does not resolve the mathematical steps or assumptions involved in the calculations.

EE Nicole
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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!
 
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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
 
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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).
 

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