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How do you do advanced calculations

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lchien52

How do you do advanced calculations
« on: January 05, 2017, 09:03:01 pm »
involving three numbers and parenthesis.

I say "ten minus five divided by 2"
I really want (10 - 5) / 2  which should be 2.5
But Alexa gives me 7.5 which is  10 - (5/2); she prioritized the mult/division over add/subtract
The good news it handles three numbers.

How do I organize the order of operations without resorting to two commands. It doesn't understand parenthesis/close parenthesis


DParker

Re: How do you do advanced calculations
« Reply #1 on: January 05, 2017, 09:29:22 pm »
The short answer is, "you don't".  This is a case of using the wrong tool for tbe job.  Alexa's math skill is geared toward solving problems for you when you need a quick answer to a simple equation.  When you start getting so involved that you need explicit grouping of terms it's time to use a calculator.

Offline kevb

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Re: How do you do advanced calculations
« Reply #2 on: January 05, 2017, 11:35:06 pm »
Mult/div is always prioritized over add/subtract. I'm impressed Alexa solved it that way.

lchien52

Re: How do you do advanced calculations
« Reply #3 on: January 06, 2017, 01:46:08 am »
Mult/div is always prioritized over add/subtract. I'm impressed Alexa solved it that way.

If not explicitly specified.   Unless you want it some other way. Which I did.
I didn't even ask for transcendental functions...


jdeacon

Re: How do you do advanced calculations
« Reply #4 on: January 07, 2017, 09:39:55 am »
If Alexa got context that would solve so much. You could say 'calculate 10 minus 5' and then say 'divide that by 2'.

Re: How do you do advanced calculations
« Reply #5 on: February 11, 2017, 09:52:26 pm »
Alexa Applies the rules... PEMDAS.... look up that term if it makes no sense from this post... pretty cool if you ask me... but I can see where setting up your own equations might be desired without going completely scientific... But Alas... It's a very new device and is truly learning daily to be better... This bit may take some time for it to add context to it or "the ability to have conversations"...
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ronhollenbeck

Re: How do you do advanced calculations
« Reply #6 on: July 21, 2018, 12:21:27 pm »
My Alexa will solve your math problem but it takes 2 steps
Problem (10-5)/2 = 2.5
Step 1 "Alexa what is 10-5" she replies "...5"
Step 2 "Alexa divide that by 2" she replies ...2.5

asbaker47

Re: How do you do advanced calculations
« Reply #7 on: December 04, 2019, 11:43:42 am »
involving three numbers and parenthesis.

I say "ten minus five divided by 2"
I really want (10 - 5) / 2  which should be 2.5
But Alexa gives me 7.5 which is  10 - (5/2); she prioritized the mult/division over add/subtract
The good news it handles three numbers.

How do I organize the order of operations without resorting to two commands. It doesn't understand parenthesis/close parenthesis

Say "open parentheses" and "close parentheses" where you wrote it above if you do not want to follow order of operations.