ELI5 why we first multiply, then add Submitted by TheManNamedPeterPan t3_z8c5vf on November 30, 2022 at 12:57 AM in explainlikeimfive 124 comments 72
SifTheAbyss t1_iyc5rk4 wrote on November 30, 2022 at 8:21 AM Because multiplication is a shorthand of repeated addition. 2 × 3 is 3 + 3, 3 × 5 would become 5 + 5 + 5, etc. So 1 + 2 × 3 will give you 1 + (3 + 3). That 1 is just a simple number, it doesn't tell you anything about how many times you're supposed to add 3. Permalink −1−
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