Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 239 – The Order of Operations

Mahler · 12-01-2008, 09:01 AM

Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 239 – The Order of Operations

The Order of Operations (12-01-08)

If you know anything about the world of basic mathematics, you know that, generally, there is a rule and an order to everything and nothing is left to chance. When working with numbers, there has to be some set path to follow. Otherwise all becomes lost in the confusion. For example, very soon after we learn to add, subtract, multiply and divide, we are taught that there are rules as to when and how those operations are used. Without those rules a simple calculation such as 2 x 3 + 4, could easily result in an answer of either 10 or 14, depending upon the operations we used first.

We know, of course, that the “order of operations” as it is called, tells us that in such an instance, we do the multiplication first, followed by the addition, so the answer is clearly 10. The answer could never be 14. Right?

Wrong! There are ways to manipulate the rules and to change the order of importance, even in something as precise as mathematics. By using parentheses, we can give the operation of addition greater weight and therefore the expression written as 2 x (3 + 4) indeed results in 14. Cheating? No, not at all. Changing? Yes, and a valid change at that, depending upon our need to do the calculation in the first place.

So, what the hell does this have to do with anything? Never mind, I’ll explain. On Thanksgiving morning, my wife and I went to breakfast at our hotel. We had been traveling and spent the night, expecting to complete our journey over the river and through the woods to somebody’s house for Thanksgiving dinner that afternoon. The restaurant was surprisingly full for the complimentary breakfast buffet. It was the usual calorie bomb of eggs, bacon, home fries, French toast, biscuits with sausage gravy and all the usual extras, each being a nutritional hand grenade in their own rite.

Not long after sitting down and having that first cup of coffee, a man, a teenager and a child of about four sat at a table near us. Almost in unison, and in one fluid motion, as his butt hit the chair his cell phone appeared in his hand and the ensuing conversation with the disembodied voice at the end of the electronic tether commenced.

It was difficult, not to notice, since, as so many cell phone users do, this man treated the device as if it were a tin can with string and spoke loudly into the can. Everyone in the room could hear his conversation and believe me it was of little importance, yet obviously more important to him than the two quiet, beautiful people seated at the table with him. The waitress literally had to adopt the little child, asking him what he would like and bringing him food from the buffet as the man prattled on. At one point, it appeared as though he was finishing.his conversation. He put his phone away, and actually spoke to the teenager. The boy reached in his pocket and handed him . . . a cell phone. Within seconds the man was talking again and explaining that his phone died and he was using his son’s phone. Sad to say the conversation was still going on as we left the restaurant. I made a comment to my wife about it being a pretty crappy way to treat your kids on Thanksgiving. To my surprise, the people in the next booth heard and turned around to agree.

We are often presented with simple calculations, life’s little equations that require us to use an order of operations. We must strive to organize and put the important things, the meaningful things first. It does not mean that needs of lesser importance are forgotten, just that they are given their proper place. This man was presented with an opportunity; a simple mathematical calculation that could have resulted in an answer that would have added to his enjoyment and multiplied his rewards. There is an order to operations in our lives and he chose to change that order, placing himself in parentheses and leaving his children outside. What was the result of that calculation? You do the math.
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Copyright 2004-2008 John R. Gesselberty. Mahler's Monday Morning Motivators (MMMM) may not be copied or used without permission of the author. All rights reserved.

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Have a Great Week!

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Bytsi · 12-01-2008, 09:15 AM

Good one, John. I think we all are guilty, at times, of getting caught up in the less-important things and forgetting (hopefully only temporarily) what matters most. Good reminder to put some extra parentheses (aka hugs and attention) around my kids and family today...