# Arithmetic » What is the stream-of-consciousness notation (knitting)?

## What is the stream-of-consciousness-notation?

This will happen when you write all steps of your calculation together.
Example: 3 + 5 = 8 × 3 = 24

### Sometimes called knitting

Knitting is the English word for "breien", which is the name for it in the Netherlands.

## What is wrong?

The =-sign means 'is equal to'.
In the example above it says that 3 + 5 is equal to 8 × 3.
So 8 = 24. This is obviously incorrect.

## How should I write it down?

The best way is one calculation. It is fast, short and clear.
(3 + 5) × 3 = 24.

If you find that still difficult, you can also write it in two seperate steps.
3 + 5 = 8     8 × 3 = 24.

## Another example

Sometimes you see the need to show the intermediate answers in a way that technically is also the stream-of-consciousness notation. Most used are these two methods:
5 × 3 (= 15) + 70 ÷ 2 (= 35) = 50
or
(5 × 3 = 15) + (70 ÷ 2 = 35) = 50

### How should I write it down?

The correct way is to use intermediate steps underneath or next to eachother.

 5 × 3 + 70 ÷ 2 = 15 + 35 = 50
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