6 / 2(1+2) = ?

[G-Man]

Have at it.

[The emperor has no clothes]

1 ?

[Forge]

1
Order of operations
MDAS
My Dear Aunt Sally
Multiply Divide Addition Subtraction

[RDAbull]

Standard Accountants Answer:  What do you need it to be?

[cookiedough]

sounds like a 1 to me , never knew we here have a bunch of algebra wizards?   

[semo97]

how about 1 or 9 or  undefined

[scooperhsd]

Answer is 1

Order of operations (top to bottom) -
Parenthesis ()
single operator functions (sin , cos, tan, e^x, 10^x, log x, log10 x, etc)
multiplicative (* / or xy)
additive ( + - )

[Psychotic Bovine]

9

6 divided by 2 is 3.  1+2 is 3.  3 x 3 is 9

[The emperor has no clothes]

Standard Accountants Answer:  What do you need it to be?

[ridingron]

6 divided by 2 is 3.  1+2 is 3.  3 x 3 is 9     

That is not the problem. The problem is 6 divided by the product of 2 times 1 +2.

[0leman]

My answer would be "1"

Not sure about "NEW" math, but back in the 50's/60's we were taught to do what was in the Parenthesis first then proceed with the rest. 

[Ken aka Oil Burner]

The answer is 9. PEDMAS

As far as multiplication and division are concerned, neither takes precedence. They are done from left to right.

6/2(1+2)
6/2x3
3x3
9

[¿spoom]

The answer is 9. PEDMAS

As far as multiplication and division are concerned, neither takes precedence. They are done from left to right.

6/2(1+2)
6/2x3
3x3
9

The DOJ says the answer is 1, but we'll accept whatever the FBI Director says it is.

[Chrisj CMA]

I was not allowed to sign up for college classes because I was so bad in math (algebra) so Ill say its either 1 or 9 but just like all algebra my entire life I say who cares anyway and what difference does it make.  My teacher was wrong.  She said once I learned algebra Id be so happy because I would use it all the time and it would make life easier.  I learned it, never used it, then forgot it.  Not interested in learning it again.

[..]

Whose buying the beer?

[oldsmokey]

Go Fish.

[The emperor has no clothes]

My answer would be "1"

Not sure about "NEW" math, but back in the 50's/60's we were taught to do what was in the Parenthesis first then proceed with the rest. 

that's how I remember it also. Also, I don't remember this being part of Algebra as some have suggested, but 5th and 6th grade math. It's been many years but I remember Algebra as something like 3y + 15 = 0

[scooperhsd]

The controversy comes from how is it WRITTEN out.

6
____     = 1   ==> 6 / (2 *(1+2))
2 (1+2)

6 / 2 * (1+2) = 9

[phideux]

The answer is Pie, Cherry please.

[old2soon]

           Mary sits in front of me in math class. I'll just cheat off her paper. RIDE SAFE.

[hubcapsc]

type 6 / 2(1+2) into google... lots of people are talking about it.
google calculator thinks it is 9.

-Mike (I think it is bad notation)...

EDIT:
The associativity of / and the implied * says you do 6/2 1st, so
it really seems like nine.

When forced to think about things like this, I read this  :
http://web.cse.ohio-state.edu/~babic.1/COperatorPrecedenceTable.pdf

[Willow]

type 6 / 2(1+2) into google... lots of people are talking about it.
google calculator thinks it is 9.

-Mike (I think it is bad notation)...

I agree that it is bad notation.  By leaving no space between the 2 and the paran the implication is that it is 6 over 2 * (1+2).  If a space is left it is clearly 9 but without the space it could be 1 or 9 depending upon how much of what follows is subject to the /.

[¿spoom]

type 6 / 2(1+2) into google... lots of people are talking about it.
google calculator thinks it is 9.

-Mike (I think it is bad notation)...

I agree that it is bad notation.  By leaving no space between the 2 and the paran the implication is that it is 6 over 2 * (1+2).  If a space is left it is clearly 9 but without the space it could be 1 or 9 depending upon how much of what follows is subject to the /.

We have a winner(s). Written correctly, I'd like to believe everyone would have solved it.

[Jess from VA]

So how much is a buck two ninety-eight?

(growing up, this was just slang for cheap)

[bassman]

 https://slate.com/technology/2013/03/facebook-math-problem-why-pemdas-doesnt-always-give-a-clear-answer.html

[RDAbull]

Whose buying the beer?

Either the first answerer or the ninth, doesn't matter to me which.

[bscrive]

Man, you guys have a lot of answers for a simple equation. 

Up here in Canada that would equal 9. 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Man, you guys have a lot of answers for a simple equation. 

Up here in Canada that would equal 9. 

Is that a metric 9 or SAE 9 ? 

[Karen]

1

[¿spoom]

Man, you guys have a lot of answers for a simple equation. 

Up here in Canada that would equal 9. 

Which might be 1 American. (I don't keep up with the exchange rate since my Bombardier stock tanked)   

[Bighead]

My question is who gives a flying snuggle or a rolling doughnut?

[G-Man]

type 6 / 2(1+2) into google... lots of people are talking about it.
google calculator thinks it is 9.

-Mike (I think it is bad notation)...

I agree that it is bad notation.  By leaving no space between the 2 and the paran the implication is that it is 6 over 2 * (1+2).  If a space is left it is clearly 9 but without the space it could be 1 or 9 depending upon how much of what follows is subject to the /.

I approached it from an Algebraic angle:


6/2(1+2)=X .    Whatever you do to one side of the equation you have to do to the other so I multiplied each side by 2(2+1)
6=2X(1+2)
6=2X+4x
6=6X .           
6/6=X .     Divide both sides by 6
1=X

I see absolutely nothing wrong with this so my answer is 1 and I don't have to worry about what comes first

[Gavin_Sons]

1 is the correct answer with today's math, 9 was the correct answer with early 1900 math. Canada must still be in the early 1900's 

[Gryphon Rider]

Man, you guys have a lot of answers for a simple equation. 

Up here in Canada Ottawa that would equal 9. 

Fixed it for ya.  Ottawa math shouldn't be confused with real math or the math Canadians outside of government use.  The answer, as the question is (poorly) written with its spaces or lack of spaces, is 1.

[bscrive]

Man, you guys have a lot of answers for a simple equation. 

Up here in Canada Ottawa that would equal 9. 

Fixed it for ya.  Ottawa math shouldn't be confused with real math or the math Canadians outside of government use.  The answer, as the question is (poorly) written with its spaces or lack of spaces, is 1.

That is why you westerners are so in debt.   


No one argues doing the parentheses 1st.... so 6/2(1+2) becomes 6/2(3) or 6/2*3... Everyone agrees this far... However it is the next step that is widely argued... do you divide 1st, or multiply? PEMDAS  would have you thinking M before D, thus multiply 1st where 6/2*3 becomes 6/6 or 1 is the answer... BUT AGAIN, that is wrong... Because Multiplication is the same (but inverse) function as Division, it is treated as the same priority, and you do it left to right instead... So with that in mind, 6/2*3 is done left to right and becomes 3*3 or 9 as the answer...
The answer is in fact 9...

I guess this is how gov'ts are able to get their fictitious numbers.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Man, you guys have a lot of answers for a simple equation. 

Up here in Canada Ottawa that would equal 9. 

Fixed it for ya.  Ottawa math shouldn't be confused with real math or the math Canadians outside of government use.  The answer, as the question is (poorly) written with its spaces or lack of spaces, is 1.

That is why you westerners are so in debt.   


No one argues doing the parentheses 1st.... so 6/2(1+2) becomes 6/2(3) or 6/2*3... Everyone agrees this far... However it is the next step that is widely argued... do you divide 1st, or multiply? PEMDAS  would have you thinking M before D, thus multiply 1st where 6/2*3 becomes 6/6 or 1 is the answer... BUT AGAIN, that is wrong... Because Multiplication is the same (but inverse) function as Division, it is treated as the same priority, and you do it left to right instead... So with that in mind, 6/2*3 is done left to right and becomes 3*3 or 9 as the answer...
The answer is in fact 9...

I guess this is how gov'ts are able to get their fictitious numbers.

uhoh.....now a poorly written 5th grade math problem has developed into a rift between the provinces. 

[Steve K (IA)]

9

[Willow]

...
No one argues doing the parentheses 1st.... so 6/2(1+2) becomes 6/2(3) or 6/2*3... Everyone agrees this far... However it is the next step that is widely argued... do you divide 1st, or multiply? PEMDAS  would have you thinking M before D, thus multiply 1st where 6/2*3 becomes 6/6 or 1 is the answer... BUT AGAIN, that is wrong... Because Multiplication is the same (but inverse) function as Division, it is treated as the same priority, and you do it left to right instead... So with that in mind, 6/2*3 is done left to right and becomes 3*3 or 9 as the answer...
The answer is in fact 9...
...

The issue is not whether to do multiplication or division first.  The issue is whether the 2 belongs primarily to the expression 2(1+2) or primarily to the expression 6/2.  It is poorly written and would be more straight forward if written by hand showing the 6 over whatever was intended to be the denominator.   

[scooperhsd]

...
No one argues doing the parentheses 1st.... so 6/2(1+2) becomes 6/2(3) or 6/2*3... Everyone agrees this far... However it is the next step that is widely argued... do you divide 1st, or multiply? PEMDAS  would have you thinking M before D, thus multiply 1st where 6/2*3 becomes 6/6 or 1 is the answer... BUT AGAIN, that is wrong... Because Multiplication is the same (but inverse) function as Division, it is treated as the same priority, and you do it left to right instead... So with that in mind, 6/2*3 is done left to right and becomes 3*3 or 9 as the answer...
The answer is in fact 9...
...

The issue is not whether to do multiplication or division first.  The issue is whether the 2 belongs primarily to the expression 2(1+2) or primarily to the expression 6/2.  It is poorly written and would be more straight forward if written by hand showing the 6 over whatever was intended to be the denominator.   

Exactly

[G-Man]

Man, you guys have a lot of answers for a simple equation. 

Up here in Canada Ottawa that would equal 9. 

Fixed it for ya.  Ottawa math shouldn't be confused with real math or the math Canadians outside of government use.  The answer, as the question is (poorly) written with its spaces or lack of spaces, is 1.

That is why you westerners are so in debt.   


No one argues doing the parentheses 1st.... so 6/2(1+2) becomes 6/2(3) or 6/2*3... Everyone agrees this far... However it is the next step that is widely argued... do you divide 1st, or multiply? PEMDAS  would have you thinking M before D, thus multiply 1st where 6/2*3 becomes 6/6 or 1 is the answer... BUT AGAIN, that is wrong... Because Multiplication is the same (but inverse) function as Division, it is treated as the same priority, and you do it left to right instead... So with that in mind, 6/2*3 is done left to right and becomes 3*3 or 9 as the answer...
The answer is in fact 9...

I guess this is how gov'ts are able to get their fictitious numbers.

Solve for X

     6
--------  = X
2(1+2)

6 = 2(1+2)X

6 = 6X

1 = X