Is There a Problem with Calculators Nowadays?

Is There a Problem with Calculators Nowadays?

Have you ever punched in a simple math expression into a calculator and gotten a result that made you pause? I recently stumbled upon something curious while doing a basic calculation, and it got me thinking about how calculators—and even our own understanding—handle math.

Let’s take a look at two seemingly similar expressions:

  • 100 + 130 × 5 =?
  • 130 + 100 × 5 = ?

At first glance, they might look like they should give the same result. But when I entered them into a calculator, I got two different answers. That led me to dig a little deeper.

Breaking It Down: Order of Operations

To understand why the results differ, I turned to an AI tool called DeepSeek, which explained it clearly using the order of operations—also known as PEMDAS or BODMAS.

Let’s walk through each expression step by step.




Expression 1: 100 + 130 × 5

According to the order of operations:

  1. Multiplication comes before addition.
  2. So, we first calculate 130 × 5, then add 100.

Calculation:

  • 130 × 5 = 650
  • 100 + 650 = 750

✅ Final Result: 750

Expression 2: 130 + 100 × 5

Again, following the same rule:

  1. Multiply first: 100 × 5
  2. Then add 130

Calculation:

  • 100 × 5 = 500
  • 130 + 500 = 630

✅ Final Result: 630

So, Why the Difference?

Even though both expressions use the same numbers and operations, the order in which the operations are performed changes the outcome.

  • In 100 + 130 × 5, the multiplication happens first, resulting in a larger number being added.
  • In 130 + 100 × 5, the multiplication still happens first, but with different numbers, leading to a smaller total.

This is a perfect example of why the order of operations is so important in math.

A Quick Refresher: What is PEMDAS/BODMAS?

Here’s what the acronym stands for:

  • P – Parentheses
  • E – Exponents (or Orders)
  • MD – Multiplication and Division (from left to right)
  • AS – Addition and Subtraction (from left to right)

Without this rule, math would be chaotic—calculations could yield different results depending on how they’re interpreted.

Final Thoughts

So, is there a problem with calculators? Not really. The issue often lies in how we input expressions and whether we understand the rules behind them. Calculators follow the order of operations strictly—but if we don’t, we might misinterpret the results.

Next time you’re doing math, remember: the order matters!