this post was submitted on 27 Nov 2025
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[–] mindbleach@sh.itjust.works 0 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (11 children)

3(x-y) is a single term…

So is 3xy, according to that textbook. That doesn't mean 3xy^2^ is 9*y^2^*x^2^. The power only applies to the last element... like how (8)2^2^ only squares the 2.

Four separate textbooks explicitly demonstrate that that's how a(b)^c^ works. 6(ab)^3^ is 6(ab)(ab)(ab), not (6ab)(6ab)(6ab). 3(x+1)^2^ for x=-2 is 3, not 9. 15(a-b)^3^x^2^ doesn't involve coefficients of 3375. 2(x-b)^2^ has a 2b^2^ term, not 4b^2^. If any textbook anywhere shows a(b)^c^ producing (ab)^c^, or x(a-b)^c^ producing (xa-xb)^c^, then reveal it, or shut the fuck up.

2(ab)^2^ is 2(ab)(ab) the same way 6(ab)^3^ is 6(ab)(ab)(ab). For a=8, b=1, that's 2*(8*1)*(8*1).

[–] SmartmanApps@programming.dev -1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (10 children)

So is 3xy

That's right

That doesn’t mean 3xy2 is 9y2x2.

That's right. It means 3abb=(3xaxbxb)

The power only applies to the last element

Factor yes, hence the special rule about Brackets and Exponents that only applies in that context

like how (8)22 only squares the 2

It doesn't do anything, being an invalid syntax to follow brackets immediately with a number. You can do ab, a(b), but not (a)b

not (6ab)(6ab)(6ab)

Yep, as opposed to 6(a+b), which is (6a+6b)

3(x+1)2 for x=-2 is 3, not 9

No it isn't. See previous point. Do we have an a(b+c), yes we do. Do we have an a(bc)²? No we don't.

2(x-b)2 has a 2b2 term

No, it has a a(b-c) term, squared

shut the fuck up

says someone still trying to make the special case of Exponents and Brackets apply to a Factorised Term when it doesn't. 😂 I'll take that as your admission of being wrong about a(b+c)=ax(b+c) then. Thanks for playing

For a=8, b=1, that’s 2*(81)(8*1).

Only if you had defined it as such to begin with, otherwise the Brackets Exponents rule doesn't apply if you started out with 2(8)², which is different to 2(8²) and 2(ab)²

..and there's still no exponent in a(b+c) anyway, Mr. False Equivalence

[–] mindbleach@sh.itjust.works 0 points 7 months ago (1 children)

We can see the Acrobat window in those scans you found online.

You think 2(8)^2^ is 128 if that's simplified from 2(8+0)^2^... but 256 if it's simplified from 2(8*1)^2^. In short: no.

I think you're about fifteen years old. You had an unpleasant teacher who belittled you, and you've identified with the aggressor. Your whole online persona is posturing to always be smarterer than everybody else, even if that means saying Wolfram fucking Alpha is wrong about basic algebra.

Faced with a contradiction that requires you to insist (8*1) ≠ (8+0), you're going to type laughter and spam emojis as if that inspires any reaction besides pity. The word you should be looking for is, "oops."

[–] SmartmanApps@programming.dev 0 points 7 months ago

We can see the Acrobat window in those scans you found online.

...and the ones that came with the textbook, and not in the photo's 😂

You think 2(8)2 is 128 if that’s simplified from 2(8+0)2… but 256 if it’s simplified from 2(8*1)2. In short: no

says person who can't tell the difference between a(b+c) and a(bc) 😂

I think you’re about fifteen years old. You had an unpleasant teacher who belittled you, and you’ve identified with the aggressor. Your whole online persona is posturing to always be smarterer than everybody else

#EveryAccusationIsAConfession

Wolfram fucking Alpha is wrong about basic algebra

Which is an established fact

Faced with a contradiction that requires you to insist (8*1) ≠ (8+0)

again says person who can't tell the difference between a(b+c) and a(bc) 😂

The word you should be looking for is, “oops.”

yet again says person who can't tell the difference between a(b+c) and a(bc) 😂

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