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Math symbology question

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  • P PIEBALDconsult

    My kid's algebra homework contains a symbol like an anti-clockwise arrow, sort of the opposite of ↻ (if it'll display). It's mixed in with "rational exponents" and my wife and I have never seen them. We have been unable to figure out what it means and the kid doesn't seem to know. Edit: http://www.codeproject.com/script/Membership/Uploads/2587207/Math.png[^] Any of the younger folk know what it means?

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    Rage
    wrote on last edited by
    #22

    This is most likely a Unicode error. I think the "vertically middle dot" was meant to be printed out. Do you have other exercises you could relate to ?

    Do not escape reality : improve reality !

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    • P PIEBALDconsult

      My kid's algebra homework contains a symbol like an anti-clockwise arrow, sort of the opposite of ↻ (if it'll display). It's mixed in with "rational exponents" and my wife and I have never seen them. We have been unable to figure out what it means and the kid doesn't seem to know. Edit: http://www.codeproject.com/script/Membership/Uploads/2587207/Math.png[^] Any of the younger folk know what it means?

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      Nathan Minier
      wrote on last edited by
      #23

      I think that's the "turn around and ask the smart kid hiding in the back row for the answer" symbol.

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      • P PIEBALDconsult

        My kid's algebra homework contains a symbol like an anti-clockwise arrow, sort of the opposite of ↻ (if it'll display). It's mixed in with "rational exponents" and my wife and I have never seen them. We have been unable to figure out what it means and the kid doesn't seem to know. Edit: http://www.codeproject.com/script/Membership/Uploads/2587207/Math.png[^] Any of the younger folk know what it means?

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        dbrenth
        wrote on last edited by
        #24

        If the symbol is a typo for multiplication #13 become c^3, #14 not so clean x^(21/4) You would have to figure out what the symbol is a substitute for.

        Brent

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        • P PIEBALDconsult

          My kid's algebra homework contains a symbol like an anti-clockwise arrow, sort of the opposite of ↻ (if it'll display). It's mixed in with "rational exponents" and my wife and I have never seen them. We have been unable to figure out what it means and the kid doesn't seem to know. Edit: http://www.codeproject.com/script/Membership/Uploads/2587207/Math.png[^] Any of the younger folk know what it means?

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          RedDk
          wrote on last edited by
          #25

          Hey! Thirty six days to the first of April! (no?)

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          • P PIEBALDconsult

            My kid's algebra homework contains a symbol like an anti-clockwise arrow, sort of the opposite of ↻ (if it'll display). It's mixed in with "rational exponents" and my wife and I have never seen them. We have been unable to figure out what it means and the kid doesn't seem to know. Edit: http://www.codeproject.com/script/Membership/Uploads/2587207/Math.png[^] Any of the younger folk know what it means?

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            sir_download_alot
            wrote on last edited by
            #26

            This might not help at all but makes you feel less guilty. I work now 20 years in Reinsurance and develop pricing tool, have a degree in Electronics and Economics. My work colleagues, who are by nature, all mathematicians and specialist in the field of actuarial science. Some have PHD's and other degrees I cannot even pronounce. However, I haven't seen this symbol in my entire career, and that's frustrating! Could it mean to find a divisor to get from c^12/5 to c^3/5? Have a look here on Wolfram https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=(c%5E(12%2F5))+%2F+(c%5E(9%2F5))

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            • P PIEBALDconsult

              So I would think, but they weren't issued books. :sigh:

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              Gary Wheeler
              wrote on last edited by
              #27

              A math class. With no books. Western civilization is doomed. With any luck, the teacher will be mounted to the front of the savages' leader's vehicle when they storm the refuge of the survivors...

              Software Zen: delete this;

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              • P PIEBALDconsult

                My kid's algebra homework contains a symbol like an anti-clockwise arrow, sort of the opposite of ↻ (if it'll display). It's mixed in with "rational exponents" and my wife and I have never seen them. We have been unable to figure out what it means and the kid doesn't seem to know. Edit: http://www.codeproject.com/script/Membership/Uploads/2587207/Math.png[^] Any of the younger folk know what it means?

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                Member 12279744
                wrote on last edited by
                #28

                I haven't taken a math class in 30 years, but 30 yrs ago, I took a lot of them. Even so, the algebra problems your kid is doing hasn't changed much since the 17th century. Find the earliest reference in the book, or perhaps even inside the cover. I strongly suspect the author has minted his own notation. In context, it looks like you're supposed to replace the squiggly with another standard symbol, such as < etc.

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                • J Josef Schroettle

                  The rational exponents can only simplified if the symbol is a division. If you multiply 12/5 * 3/5 you get 36/25 which cannot be simplified. The other way around 12/5 / 3/5 = 4 makes a lot more sense. Same for the other expression.

                  Josef Schroettle

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                  Moshe Katz
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #29

                  Except that a multiplication symbol there would mean you add the exponents together, not that you multiply them. For example: `c^2 x c^3` equals `c^5`, not `c^6`. Therefore, if it is multiplication, you will actually be doing: `12/5 + 3/5` which is `15/5` which simplifies to `3`.

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                  • G Gary Wheeler

                    A math class. With no books. Western civilization is doomed. With any luck, the teacher will be mounted to the front of the savages' leader's vehicle when they storm the refuge of the survivors...

                    Software Zen: delete this;

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                    PIEBALDconsult
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #30

                    Apparently the books are supposed to stay in the room.

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                    • P PIEBALDconsult

                      Apparently the books are supposed to stay in the room.

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                      Gary Wheeler
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #31

                      I stand by my original response.

                      Software Zen: delete this;

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                      • P PIEBALDconsult

                        My kid's algebra homework contains a symbol like an anti-clockwise arrow, sort of the opposite of ↻ (if it'll display). It's mixed in with "rational exponents" and my wife and I have never seen them. We have been unable to figure out what it means and the kid doesn't seem to know. Edit: http://www.codeproject.com/script/Membership/Uploads/2587207/Math.png[^] Any of the younger folk know what it means?

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                        Kirk 10389821
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #32

                        My approach would be: Khan Academy .org Start with the book sections you child is covering. Use the contextual clues from the types of problems being solved. (This would be the Chapter topic, and the section topics, and problem heading (solve for x)) Start there with a broad scan. At the very top of the site is a search. I usually can find anything a student is working on. Also helps to know know what level of algebra. Finally, in most math books these days, even the ONLINE versions, the symbols are introduced in the sections the kids never read at the front of the section. Usually as an EXAMPLE problem! HTH

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                        • P PIEBALDconsult

                          My kid's algebra homework contains a symbol like an anti-clockwise arrow, sort of the opposite of ↻ (if it'll display). It's mixed in with "rational exponents" and my wife and I have never seen them. We have been unable to figure out what it means and the kid doesn't seem to know. Edit: http://www.codeproject.com/script/Membership/Uploads/2587207/Math.png[^] Any of the younger folk know what it means?

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                          Dorsal
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #33

                          Your machine probably just doesn't support the original font, so it produced this other character from whatever font it could provide. Check the course requirements for which font you need to install.

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                          • P PIEBALDconsult

                            My kid's algebra homework contains a symbol like an anti-clockwise arrow, sort of the opposite of ↻ (if it'll display). It's mixed in with "rational exponents" and my wife and I have never seen them. We have been unable to figure out what it means and the kid doesn't seem to know. Edit: http://www.codeproject.com/script/Membership/Uploads/2587207/Math.png[^] Any of the younger folk know what it means?

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                            niknelb
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #34

                            From the context I assume it represents 'the reciprocal of'. So with the implied multiply operator we'd get 13) 4 14) 1 / 3x^2 But what do I know - I'm 65!

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                            • P PIEBALDconsult

                              My wife and I both searched. Even Wolfram seemed to just shrug. We wouldn't be surprised to find that it's the wrong symbol. Or some cockamamie new "common core" X| thing.

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                              SlugTriton
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #35

                              My guess, based on the context of the formula, would be that it means "simplify". Now, if your child is in a graduate course on non-associative algebra, the answer may be different.

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                              • J Josef Schroettle

                                The rational exponents can only simplified if the symbol is a division. If you multiply 12/5 * 3/5 you get 36/25 which cannot be simplified. The other way around 12/5 / 3/5 = 4 makes a lot more sense. Same for the other expression.

                                Josef Schroettle

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                                patbob
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #36

                                I thought when you multiplied the same variable with two different exponents together, you just add the exponents. So.. c^(12/5) * c ^(3/5) ==> c^(12/5 + 3/5) ==> c^(15/5) ==> c^3 x^(3/4) * x^(9/2) ==> x^(21/4), or x^(5 1/4 Looks to me like the counter-clockwise arrow is a typo -- meant to be a dot for multiplication, but they used the wrong glyph, and the proof reading quality control these days is left as an exercise for the student.

                                We can program with only 1's, but if all you've got are zeros, you've got nothing.

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                                • P PIEBALDconsult

                                  My kid's algebra homework contains a symbol like an anti-clockwise arrow, sort of the opposite of ↻ (if it'll display). It's mixed in with "rational exponents" and my wife and I have never seen them. We have been unable to figure out what it means and the kid doesn't seem to know. Edit: http://www.codeproject.com/script/Membership/Uploads/2587207/Math.png[^] Any of the younger folk know what it means?

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                                  brothers
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #37

                                  If your kid's been out, how did he get the homework? Did he download it from a webpage or some such? If so, it might be a font mismatch between the teacher's computer and yours.

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                                  • N niknelb

                                    From the context I assume it represents 'the reciprocal of'. So with the implied multiply operator we'd get 13) 4 14) 1 / 3x^2 But what do I know - I'm 65!

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                                    PIEBALDconsult
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #38

                                    Oh, now that's an idea. Thanks. :thumbsup:

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                                    • G Gary Wheeler

                                      A math class. With no books. Western civilization is doomed. With any luck, the teacher will be mounted to the front of the savages' leader's vehicle when they storm the refuge of the survivors...

                                      Software Zen: delete this;

                                      S Offline
                                      S Offline
                                      SeattleC
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #39

                                      Gary Wheeler wrote:

                                      A math class. With no books. Western civilization is doomed.

                                      Soooo right. It's a nightmare, with hastily bodged-together curriculum with no backup at all. Makes me crazy, and my kid's just in elementary school.

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                                      • P PIEBALDconsult

                                        My kid's algebra homework contains a symbol like an anti-clockwise arrow, sort of the opposite of ↻ (if it'll display). It's mixed in with "rational exponents" and my wife and I have never seen them. We have been unable to figure out what it means and the kid doesn't seem to know. Edit: http://www.codeproject.com/script/Membership/Uploads/2587207/Math.png[^] Any of the younger folk know what it means?

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                                        Wirehand
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #40

                                        I have multiple degrees in abstract math (functional analysis mainly) and I have never seen that symbol used in English, German or Russian texts. Must be something new.....

                                        Using the latest technology to create tomorrows problems today.

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                                        • P PIEBALDconsult

                                          Oh, now that's an idea. Thanks. :thumbsup:

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                                          niknelb
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #41

                                          It may be a good idea but my answers are wrong as I mis-read the two questions. If I'm right about the reciprocals bit then the correct answers I reckon are: 13) c^4 14) 1 / x^6 (I'm happy to sit at the back of the class)

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