The phrase "2 5 divided by 2" is a bit ambiguous. It could be interpreted in a couple of different ways:
1. "25 divided by 2"
This is the most straightforward interpretation. In this case, we are simply dividing the number 25 by 2. The answer is 12.5.
2. "2 and 5 divided by 2"
This interpretation is less common but still possible. Here, we would divide both 2 and 5 by 2. This would give us:
- 2 divided by 2 = 1
- 5 divided by 2 = 2.5
It's important to note that when interpreting mathematical expressions, the order of operations is crucial. Generally, we follow the order of operations known as PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction).
Understanding the Order of Operations
Let's look at some examples:
- 10 + 5 / 2: We first divide 5 by 2 (5/2 = 2.5), and then add 10 (10 + 2.5 = 12.5).
- (10 + 5) / 2: We perform the operation inside the parentheses first (10 + 5 = 15), and then divide by 2 (15 / 2 = 7.5).
Conclusion
The meaning of "2 5 divided by 2" is unclear without further context. If we interpret it as "25 divided by 2", the answer is 12.5. However, if we interpret it as "2 and 5 divided by 2", we get 1 and 2.5. It's always important to be mindful of the order of operations when evaluating mathematical expressions.
