Malcolm Peake CEng FICE’s Post

Who would have thought a post could generate such a response. Many comments from some smart people, some of whom are over complicating this but are essentially correct. My first reaction to this was to check the settings. I’ve seen calculators set to Rad’s give answers that weren’t expected. Not the calculators fault, its just doing whats its programmed. Second, ask the why, which by the looks of the 100’s of comments on the otiginal post is what has occurred. Third, rules are there for a reason. BODMAS is a simple way of getting through to millions of people. There may be specific exceptions in rare cases for engineers but the reason why an international standard is set is to move away from these problems. And to prove my point, I have made multiple spelling errors in this post, only picked up through proof reading. Turns out I have auto correct switched off. Don’t rely just on technology, ChatGp is great but again its just doing whats its programmed. Check manually.

The point of this post is as the author concludes is worth paying attention to - "Think again about the trust you place in tech." Applies just as much to the emergence of content generated by large language models, also known incorrectly as artificial intelligence, or "Ai". And for the avoidance of doubt, the correct answer is 1!

As a person who enjoys tech, much of tech and AI must be dbl checked. As one of my favorite math teachers told me: "Tools like calculators are amplifiers of knowledge, not substitutes for it. Without understanding the problem, you may never know if the solution is right." -Mrs. Wilson

OMG, go read the comments on this post and then wonder at how we as a community can even get anywhere. Such a simple question yet... so many strong opinions. At least on iPhone 6÷2(1+2) is expanded visually to 6÷2x(1+2). There is actually no way using the iPhone calculator to write 2(1+2) without it expanding to 2x(1+2). Just a reminder to all of you entering computations in your code, use parenthesis everywhere to make sure the priorities are clearly defined as per your computation rules. Clearly not everyone agrees on operator priorities.

Feelings of fear & shame hit me like an avalanche of anxiety, when I saw this post! 😳 Mathematics ... (*sighs in Dyscalculia*) even the word sends shivers down my spine! 😱 Does anyone else feel like this? 🤔 Let me be clear, NONE of this came from the original post, it's ALL my internalised trauma, from years of being told things like: "You’re just thick at maths." "We went over this already, you obviously weren’t paying attention!" "How embarrassing, you’re an adult. How can you NOT know this?" "But I thought you were 'supposed to be' intelligent?" For years, I believed this. I had no idea Dyscalculia even existed. I'd laugh it off, ashamed, embarrassed & accepting that I was "just stupid at maths." 🫣 Sadly, all too commonly there's is a ‘one size fits all’ approach to teaching maths, which often labels kids who struggle as "lazy" or "problem children" ... knocking their confidence & sense of self worth. These feelings don’t magically disappear when we grow up, they stick with us, often turning into shame and self doubt that impacts us into adulthood. 😩 It’s like saying this: To people with hearing impairments: "Just try to listen harder." 👂 Those visually impaired: "Concentrate, and keep looking til you see it." 👀 Wheelchair users: "Have you TRIED practising walking more?" ♿️ Awareness of Dyscalculia is virtually non existent, & when it comes to neurodivergence in general, it’s not much better! 🙅♀️ ➡️ 90% of managers admit they don’t understand neurodivergence. ➡️ 80% of HR professionals lack awareness of it too (CIPD: Neurodiversity at Work). ➡️ 75% of recruitment processes aren’t inclusive or accessible (Acas). Inadequate training and insufficient workplace policies fail to provide proactive, inclusive support, which directly undermines employees' confidence, reduces performance, and causes harm to their mental health, overall wellbeing, and career progression. Yet, people with Dyscalculia often excel at problem-solving, creativity, innovative ideas, and big-picture thinking. Look at me...an award winning Founder & CEO of two pioneering companies: Melanie Costas Consulting & Rural Mental Health Matters Limited. 🏆✌️ ℹ️ Dyscalculia affects around 6% of the population, and it’s not "just a maths issue" as it impacts time management, money handling, spatial awareness, planning & following a journey, taking instructions & understanding directions and more! 😵💫 When workplaces start to adapt to people, not the other way around, and businesses prioritise inclusivity, they're rewarded with 30% lower turnover and employees who are 50% less likely to take sick leave (Deloitte, 2023). Now, that's some sums we can ALL get behind, right? 🧮 🙌 Curious about how to make inclusion a priority? Drop me a DM or click my profile link to join the #InclusionInsurgence! 💖

Technology is an instrument. Knowledge cannot be delegated to technology.

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