− 2 3 5 " mean?I have seen this notation before: 2 3 5 . It means 2 + 3 5 I know it since 3rd grade. It always seemed confusing to me because sometimes (especially in physics problems), 2 3 5 might mean 2 ⋅ 3 5 . But it math, I know it means addition. The problem is that I have never used this notation before with negative integers like in − 2 3 5 . Logically, it means negative 2 and 3 / 5, which would be − ( 2 + 3 5 ) = − 2 − 3 5 . However, shouldn't this be noted as − ( 2 3 5 )? What does − 2 3 5 really mean?

Question

−  2      3    5  &quot; mean?I have seen this notation before:   2      3    5  . It means   2  +      3    5   I know it since   3rd grade. It always seemed confusing to me because sometimes (especially in physics problems),   2      3    5   might mean   2  ⋅      3    5  . But it math, I know it means addition. The problem is that I have never used this notation before with negative integers like in   −  2      3    5  . Logically, it means negative   2 and   3      /    5, which would be   −  (  2  +      3    5    )  =  −  2  −      3    5  . However, shouldn&#039;t this be noted as   −  (  2      3    5    )? What does   −  2      3    5   really mean?

Kennedy Evans · Accepted Answer

If you would want to multiply   2 by   3      /    5 you&#039;d have to put a multiplication sign between   2 and   3      /    5. Always. If not, you first have to calculate &quot;the addition&quot; and obtain   13      /    5 and then put the negative sign in front of the result, thus obtaining   −  13      /    5, simply because that notation has priority over the minus sign in front of it.

Answered question

Answer & Explanation

New Questions in Pre-Algebra