Random Comments (RH)

[Palehorse]

Model 61.  The gun is older than I am. 

The Winchester Model 61 was the fourth in a series of Slide-Action rifles that Winchester produced.    Unlike its predecessors, the Model 61 had no exposed hammer, an attempt by Winchester to compete with other rifles of the day (e.g., Remington).  The Model 61 was the hammerless replacement for 1890, 1906 and Model 62, especially when the former two models were dropped from production in 1932.  The Winchester Model 61 was produced from 1932 through 1963 with over 342,000 guns sold.

http://aaa-webs.com/homesteadfirearms/appraisals/61/61-1history.htm

Nice. 

[The Troll]

  Tell me something Horse, is there any place around Anderson that a person can shoot their pistols.   

[Anne]

  Tell me something Horse, is there any place around Anderson that a person can shoot their pistols.   

Used to be able to at the Fall Creek conservation club over towards Ovid.

[Anne]

Ok, math people. This was on my facebook page: 4 x 4 + 4 x 4 + 4 - 4  x 4 = ?  I think the answer is 320, others say either 16 or 20. My feeling is that the math must be done in order since there are no brackets. Depending on where the brackets are put it can change the answer to either 16 or 20. Am I right or am I missing something?

[Palehorse]

Ok, math people. This was on my facebook page: 4 x 4 + 4 x 4 + 4 - 4  x 4 = ?  I think the answer is 320, others say either 16 or 20. My feeling is that the math must be done in order since there are no brackets. Depending on where the brackets are put it can change the answer to either 16 or 20. Am I right or am I missing something?

I think you are right, but let's await the local Math Geeks to weigh in. . .

[Locutus]

Ok, math people. This was on my facebook page: 4 x 4 + 4 x 4 + 4 - 4  x 4 = ?  I think the answer is 320, others say either 16 or 20. My feeling is that the math must be done in order since there are no brackets. Depending on where the brackets are put it can change the answer to either 16 or 20. Am I right or am I missing something?

Operator precedence is key to figuring out expressions like this one.

Use the acronym P.E.M.D.A.S. when looking at problems like this.  You can remember it by thinking of, "Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally."  It stands for parenthesis, exponents (and roots), multiplication and division, then addition and subtraction all performed left to right.  Since this problem has no parenthesis, powers, or roots, just do the multiplication first from left to right, then do the addition left to right.

The answer is 20.

4 X 4 + 4 X 4 + 4 - 4 X 4  equals

16 + 16 + 4 - 16  using the rules above which yields the answer of 20.

[Locutus]

And just for any doubters, confirmation from a computer:


bc 1.06
Copyright 1991-1994, 1997, 1998, 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This is free software with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY.
For details type `warranty'.
4*4+4*4+4-4*4
20

[Locutus]

An interesting side note to the above, is that you can enter that expression on a standard calculator and get an answer of 320.  That's because the calculator isn't keeping track of operators that have previously been used in the expression.  However, if you have access to an iPhone or iPad calculator, you can enter that expression as is, and get the correct answer of 20.  I assume that's because the calculator app is keeping track of previously used operators and is therefor keeping track of precedence. 

This just goes to show you that you can't always trust calculators to come up with the correct answer to expressions like this, and remembering P.E.M.D.A.S. is the way to find the correct answer every time.

< Locutus removes the math hat for the evening >

[Anne]

Well, you learn something new every day. Thanks.

[Locutus]

Well, you learn something new every day. Thanks.

You're quite welcome.  I always enjoy talking about math. 

[Bo D]

Speaking of math ....

Math Abilities Linked to Left-right Brain Communication

A new study has found that the strength of communication between the left and right hemispheres of the brain predicts performance on basic arithmetic problems. The findings shed light on the neural basis of human math abilities and suggest a possible route to aiding those who suffer from dyscalculia — an inability to understand and manipulate numbers.

More at ...
http://www.scientificcomputing.com/news-DA-Math-Abilities-Linked-to-Left-right-Brain-Communication-091012.aspx?et_cid=2841995&et_rid=41373174&linkid=http%3a%2f%2fwww.scientificcomputing.com%2fnews-DA-Math-Abilities-Linked-to-Left-right-Brain-Communication-091012.aspx

[Locutus]

That's an interesting read.     Thanks for posting that. 

[Bo D]

" a possible route to aiding those who suffer from dyscalculia — an inability to understand and manipulate numbers."

You think that's what's wrong with 'me' and her inability to understand the concept of "a few" and "several?"

[Locutus]

" a possible route to aiding those who suffer from dyscalculia — an inability to understand and manipulate numbers."

You think that's what's wrong with 'me' and her inability to understand the concept of "a few" and "several?"

Now that's funny; I don't care who ya' are!   

[Locutus]

Trogloraptor Bigfoot Spider Found In Caves In The Pacific Northwest   





Just when you thought it was safe to go stomping 'round in the caves of Oregon, a new family of spider has been discovered, complete with frighteningly large legs and a terrifying name to boot. Meet: Trogloraptor, the arachnid which has already been called the "Spider Version of Bigfoot."



Link to Full Article