6÷2(1+2) : Othor Games

» Sat May 28, 2011 8:29 pm

I saw this debate get drawn out for a VERY long time on another webpage. People on both sides of the issue were claiming to be good at math or math majors..

So, the extremely controversial math equation is: 6÷2(1+2)

I personally think it is 9, and my TI-84 agrees with me. But there were 'experts' strongly defending the idea that the answer was 1. So, what do you guys think?

» Sat May 28, 2011 5:32 pm

Well, the expression in the parentheses should be resolved first, giving 3, then it's just a case of multiplication. Why should it not be 1?

» Sat May 28, 2011 8:10 pm

Answer is 1.

1+2=3.

2x3=6.

6÷6=1.

What's so hard about it?

» Sun May 29, 2011 1:45 am

Wouldn't it boil down to how you use the Order of Operations? (1+2) would come first, giving you (3).

6÷2(3)

But then do you multiply 2 and 3 first, or divide 6 and 2 first. Aren't the two operations supposed to be at the same time (whichever comes first in the equation). So, if that's the case, you'd get 9. But if you always do multiplication first, you get 1.

~~Edit: No, it's 9~~

Edit 2: I don't give a smurf.

» Sat May 28, 2011 11:22 pm

Well I feel like an idiot, because I got 7, and that's not even up there

:P I'm a dummy, I tried distributing

» Sat May 28, 2011 10:24 am

PEMDAS

If following the method, the answer should be 1.

» Sun May 29, 2011 1:55 am

But then do you multiply 2 and 3 first, or divide 6 and 2 first. Aren't the two operations supposed to be at the same time (whichever comes first in the equation). So, if that's the case, you'd get 9. But if you always do multiplication first, you get 1.

I would go with 1, myself.

Ah, I see now. It's interesting, but I've always considered that x(y) expressions are "closer" than x * y, as if the full format would be more like: 6 ÷ ( 2(1+2) )

» Sat May 28, 2011 5:19 pm

Ah, I see now. It's interesting, but I've always considered that x(y) expressions are "closer" than x * y, as if the full format would be more like: 6 ÷ ( 2(1+2) )

Same.

» Sat May 28, 2011 11:39 pm

The answer is indisputably 9, unless you are using a non-standard order of operations. The reason this problem gives people trouble is that they multiply numbers outside of parenthesis, but next to them, with an increased priority. You DO NOT divide 2 by (1+2) before dividing 6 by 2. Period. There is no wiggle room. PEMDAS works, as long as you remember that multiplication=division, and addition=subtraction. When two operations have equal priority, the priority is determined by left to right.

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=6%C3%B72%281%2B2%29

» Sat May 28, 2011 7:40 pm

didn't anyone learn their advanced algebraic fraction mathematics?

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/219/mathhf.jpg/ except the fraction is upside down

» Sat May 28, 2011 4:29 pm

didn't anyone learn their advanced algebraic fraction mathematics?

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/219/mathhf.jpg/

Indeed.

That is how I would resolve it.

» Sat May 28, 2011 4:13 pm

I get 1 after fallowing PEMDAS

Can you believe that schools are trying to change it to GEMDAS? :down:

The answer is indisputably 9, unless you are using a non-standard order of operations. The reason this problem gives people trouble is that they multiply numbers outside of parenthesis, but next to them, with an increased priority. You DO NOT divide 2 by (1+2) before dividing 6 by 2. Period. There is no wiggle room. PEMDAS works, as long as you remember that multiplication=division, and addition=subtraction. When two operations have equal priority, the priority is determined by left to right.

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=6%C3%B72%281%2B2%29

Uh what kind of horrible order of operations are you following because it's not PEMDAS

» Sat May 28, 2011 2:36 pm

I get 1 after fallowing PEMDAS

Then you're not following it properly.

» Sat May 28, 2011 1:20 pm

I got 1, however, the smartest math student I know said 9.

Also, Wolfram says 9. http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=6%C3%B72%281%2B2%29

Also, iGuess says 9.

Therefore, it's 9.

» Sun May 29, 2011 1:39 am

Well I feel like an idiot, because I got 7, and that's not even up there

:P I'm a dummy, I tried distributing

Distributing does work, you just have to put it into an algebraic fraction first.

» Sat May 28, 2011 11:05 pm

Parentheses - 1+2
Exponents
Multiply 2x3
Divide - 6/6
Addition
Subtraction

6/2(1+2)

I don't see how it's nine?

» Sat May 28, 2011 12:57 pm

Added a poll.

» Sat May 28, 2011 11:08 am

Parentheses
Exponents
Multiply
Divide
Addition
Subtraction

6/2(1+2)

I don't see how it's nine?

Multiplication and division are equal. Whichever is leftmost is done first, and you move right. 6/2=3, so you are left with 3(1+2), which is 3*3 = 9.

» Sat May 28, 2011 4:25 pm

Multiplication and division are equal. Whichever is leftmost is done first, and you move right. 6/2=3, so you are left with 3(1+2), which is 3*3 = 9.

I was not aware of that. Neat.

» Sat May 28, 2011 5:40 pm

I don't see how it's nine?

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=6%C3%B72%281%2B2%29

Wolfram is never wrong.

It shouldn't be a poll since 9 is the only right answer.

Note that I got it wrong as well, but sometimes you just have to admit it!

» Sat May 28, 2011 11:22 pm

Parentheses - 1+2
Exponents
Multiply 2x3
Divide - 6/6
Addition
Subtraction

6/2(1+2)

I don't see how it's nine?

Actually you know what yeah I did get it wrong

Multiplication and division aren't hard placed in PEMDAS

It's whatever comes first in the equation that you do first

so

6/2(1+2)

6/2(3)

3(3)

9

» Sat May 28, 2011 11:30 am

Multiplication and division aren't hard placed in PEMDAS

Same with addition and subtraction.

» Sat May 28, 2011 10:39 pm

Actually you know what yeah I did get it wrong

Multiplication and division aren't hard placed in PEMDAS

It's whatever comes first in the equation that you do first

so

6/2(1+2)

6/2(3)

3(3)

9

That's actually weird. I was taught otherwise. Given it's been a few years since I've had an algebra class, but I don't remember anyone ever talking about doing Division before multiplication if it comes first. So I learned something today, always awesome.

» Sat May 28, 2011 10:55 am

Multiplication and division are equal. Whichever is leftmost is done first, and you move right. 6/2=3, so you are left with 3(1+2), which is 3*3 = 9.

Never heard of that. I was always taught the order of operations is law when it came to this sort of math. But then I've also been told through some mathematical expression that 2+2= infinity. Though if you break it down into an algebraic fraction and distribute the 2 across the parentheses the answer comes out to 1, so I'm still going to stick with one :lol:

» Sun May 29, 2011 1:33 am

I have seen this discussed to death, and someone on another forum actually contacted someone with knowledge on the subject. The answer is 1 or 9 because of how the question is written and how some of the rules are followed. I can't remember where it (the topic got really big), but one point he made is that a lot of people consider x(y+z) to be of higher priority than basic dividing, and do it before the basic division in the equation.

Edit: After trying to find the information on it, it's lost to the internet since every forum seems to be discussing this type of equation.