Last entry we had determined that: 1. PEMDAS as a saying doesn't make a whole lot of sense, 2. The MDAS is ok, but ignores the "I'll write my name with <3 on the back of my hand" relationship between Multiply and Divide (also Add and Subtract, but not Multiply and Subtract), and 3. Sheesh Mathman, you're pretty loquacious.
What we didn't deal with was: What about the PE a.k.a. Parenthesis and Exponents part of the Order of Operations?
First, the Parenthesis are always first. DO IT NOW! is their mantra. Don't ask questions. Just Do It. (Actually just saying Parenthesis are the only bossy symbols is not a correct statement. Brackets also mean the same thing.)
I don't know about you, but I'm not a fan of people constantly bossing me around. The grouping symbols, ( ), [ ], and { }, kind of have their own thing going on. They live in their own little dreamworld and don't really have anyone else to hang out with since they're so full of themselves and don't really care about others- unlike Multiply <3 Divide or Subtract <3 Add. Ahh, special relationships...
So the pressing question is now, what about E? I mean, are Exponents to be left forever by themselves? In PEMDAS they're right after the bossy ones and before the googly eyed pairs. Don't they have any prospects for a long term relationship?
First up, Exponents deserve to be right after the bossy ones. Exponents are a shortcut for repeated multiplication which was at the forefront of the MDAS (but may be second to divide). An Exponent- like 2^5 is a shorter way of writing 2*2*2*2*2, just like 2*5 is a shorter way of writing 2+2+2+2+2 (multiplication is a shortcut for repeated addition). I guess that makes exponents kind of the big brother to multiplication and the even bigger brother to addition. Does that mean exponents are repeated repeated addition?
But what about their prospects for BFFs or eternal love? They're at the top (not counting the brats) of the Order of Operations, but should they have to be alone?
In short, no.
Exponents do have a special relationship going on, but they're so secure in it that they don't really advertise it on the back of their hand or with a sketchy tattoo. They've got roots. No really, they've got roots.
Tune in next week to find out more.
Until then: Stay Radical. (Ooh, That's the perfect tagline in this case.)