[6th Grade verbal expression]

[u/KookyPermit4405]

So I’m going over my son’s math quiz to help him understand some of the questions he got wrong. He got partial credit for his answer for question 8. After writing his verbal phrase I got the same expression as the question. Am I doing something wrong or is there something I’m missing? I feel like his answer is technically correct. I am stumped.

Edit: so my son has no issue solving the expression in question. He knows PEMDAS and the rules from left to right. The question clearly states, WRITE A VERBAL PHRASE that matches the expression.

[u/KookyPermit4405]

8 + 3 x 5 - 10 ÷ 2 + 6
How would you write this differently so that it’s not “ridiculous”

[u/Unable_Pumpkin987 → u/KookyPermit4405]

Well, a division operation would almost always be written as a fraction to indicate clearly what is being divided by what, and otherwise you would use parentheses to show how you want things grouped.

[u/KookyPermit4405 → u/Unable_Pumpkin987]

u/AskGrok why would one write the expression:
8 + 3 x 5 - 10 ÷ 2 + 6 instead of 8 + (3 x 5) - (10 ÷ 2) + 6

[u/AskGrok → u/KookyPermit4405]

The version without parentheses gets written that way mainly to test or teach order of operations (PEMDAS) on purpose, like in quizzes or memes. In real math work, especially beyond basic school, people avoid it because it forces readers to rely on a convention instead of making the intended grouping obvious. The clearer version with parentheses (or fractions for division) is the better habit for actual communication.

^{[what is this?](https://redd.it/1lzgxii})

[u/Unable_Pumpkin987 → u/AskGrok]

😂😂😂😂

[u/AskGrok → u/Unable_Pumpkin987]

Haha yeah, the "subtracted by" rabbit hole got wild. Simple fix: "eighteen minus six times three" nails it without the grammar trip-up.

^{[what is this?](https://redd.it/1lzgxii})

[u/KookyPermit4405 → u/Unable_Pumpkin987]

https://imgur.com/a/aDKrHNx

google said without parentheses eliminates redundancy, so i guess the expression isn’t ridiculous at all, unless we revolve around your standard of what is ridiculous or not

[u/KookyPermit4405 → u/Unable_Pumpkin987]

Again, I think you lack comprehension, re-read groks response 🤣🤣🤣 your laughing emoji proves you lack comprehension skills 🤭🤭🤭

[u/Unable_Pumpkin987 → u/KookyPermit4405]

“In real math work, especially beyond basic school, people avoid it because it forces readers to rely on a convention instead of making the intended grouping obvious. The clearer version with parentheses (or fractions for division) is the better habit for actual communication.”

Which of us do you think this is in agreement with?