Wednesday, December 5, 2007

PROBLEM OF THE WEEK #14

Imagine that a new operational symbol for mathematics has been developed. This symbol is ~ and is represented by

Using this new symbol, find the value of (3 ~2) ~ 4.

11 comments:

Maital said...

The first thing you have to do is find out if the symbol means add, subtract,multiply or divide

Ben H. said...

you have to find out what a and b equals first then do what maital said

anonymous said...

it's hiding the problem we need to solve on my computer.

daniel L said...

there is way to figure it out below is some information right below the problem

Mrs. Cooper said...

Only 4 comments? Come ON, 6th graders you can do better than that!
hint...
First start with the parenthesis and follow the rule for "~".
3~ 2 (means a = 3 and b = 2). Then take this answer and use it for the "new a" ( ) ~ 4 = ____

danielstrauss said...

This problem is very confusing. I just don't get it.

scotty said...

so if a = 3 and b = 2 then we still dont know what ~ is or means

Noa said...

I can't see the words after "Using this new symbol, find..." it is hidden on my computer!!!!!

Mrs. Cooper said...

Find the value of (3~2)~4.
so (a~b) = ab divided by a-b
(3~2) = ?????

Mrs. Cooper said...

since ~ means ab divided by a-b so to find 3~2 use a = 3 and b=2 and do the problem: (3)(2) divided by 3-2.

Then use that answer 6 to now find
6~4.
So use a=6 and b=4 and do the problem again...(6)(4) divided by 6-4

so the answer is 12.

chadldinho said...

it can help us a lot that we know that ab means a times b!