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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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    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;

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                  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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                      • K Kenneth Haugland

                        Sure it's not a printing error? A multiplication sign that is messed up? That would make the most sense to me at least.

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                        Kyle Moyer
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #42

                        This is in line with my thinking. I've seen multiplication represented by an 'X', an '*' (asterisk), a dot, and an open dot (circle). Maybe they were going for a dot or open dot, but the character set the printer used didn't have an exact match. The anti-clockwise arrow may have been the best fit. (Why they didn't replace it with a common alternative like 'X' or '*' is anyone's guess...) Of course then you have to ask what business the printer has printing math books without a sufficient character set... But that's another conversation entirely...

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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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                          tnich
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #43

                          Maybe it's a capital G.

                          tnich

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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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                            RobertCraig
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #44

                            I've asked some maths experts and they've requested more information. Do you have earlier pages in the chapter you could post? So far nobody has seen this symbol used in this way.

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                            • R RobertCraig

                              I've asked some maths experts and they've requested more information. Do you have earlier pages in the chapter you could post? So far nobody has seen this symbol used in this way.

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                              PIEBALDconsult
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #45

                              Nope, this is just a worksheet we think the teacher downloaded from the 'Net. So it is likely a mis-translation of some sort. Interestingly, the next day the kid brought home another worksheet and my wife was able to find it -- with the answers. :cool: We're not impressed by the quality of the "teaching" that goes on now.

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                              • P PIEBALDconsult

                                Nope, this is just a worksheet we think the teacher downloaded from the 'Net. So it is likely a mis-translation of some sort. Interestingly, the next day the kid brought home another worksheet and my wife was able to find it -- with the answers. :cool: We're not impressed by the quality of the "teaching" that goes on now.

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                                RobertCraig
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #46

                                If it's not too much trouble, what were the answers? Was it a multiplication symbol as suspected?

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                                • P PIEBALDconsult

                                  Apparently the books are supposed to stay in the room.

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                                  Charles Programmer
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #47

                                  Guess where the knowledge will likely stay. Effing school boards, I'll bet the Supervisor makes a great deal of money, while "saving" so much on the education of children.

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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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                                    ngoj
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #48

                                    How old is your kid? If he/she is primary school pupil then the sign is just a incorrectly rendered multiplication sign. There is absolutely nothing else you can do with c ^ (12/5) and c ^ (3/5) but to multiply them. And solutions are 13) c ^ 3 14) x ^ (21/4) (unless part of formula is missing on right) Or the question was just for laughs ... :cool:

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                                    • N ngoj

                                      How old is your kid? If he/she is primary school pupil then the sign is just a incorrectly rendered multiplication sign. There is absolutely nothing else you can do with c ^ (12/5) and c ^ (3/5) but to multiply them. And solutions are 13) c ^ 3 14) x ^ (21/4) (unless part of formula is missing on right) Or the question was just for laughs ... :cool:

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                                      PIEBALDconsult
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #49

                                      It's supposed to be algebra 1, 9th grade. And it's likely supposed to be multiplication.

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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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                                        englebart
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #50

                                        If you know the name of the book and the page number, then you might be able to find an errata. Most printed text books have pages and pages of errata. If they do not let you bring the books home, then there is probably an online version with some lame password like schooldistrictname2015. Hopefully, the online version would be fixed but you might still need to find an errata.

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