6÷2(1+2)= ?

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AndyB1976 said:
Aren't multiply and divide treated equally, then work from left to right?
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I must admit i didnt know this. It also looks like they call it BIDBMAS now wheras when i went to school it was BODMAS :)
 
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Got 9 then number one son (16) pointed out it was 1....then went on to explain that i was stupid.....8-)
 
ziggy©;3631593 said:
Based on BODMAS

Code: 
Brackets       - 6/2(1+2)
Multiplication - 6/2(3)
Multiplication - 6/2*3
Division       - 6/6

=1
Click to expand...

Surely you've just applied BOMDAS? :D
 
Well surely division and multiplication have same priority but in this case it's a number next to a bracket which means the calculations inside the bracket will multiply by the number next to it. So first thing is 2(2+1) will be 2(3) = 6. then we do the division 6/6 which is 1.
If you say to do the division first then it had to be like this 6/2*(2+1) this way you'd can get 9
 
Answer's 9. I think even some of the scientific calculators are wrong. Similar news pop up in Taiwan and Casio is discussing the situation among themselves. LOL
 
Please make it stop :'(

The answer is, and will always be, 1001.
 
Marcel said:
Surely you've just applied BOMDAS? :D
Click to expand...

Actually the second line is brackets again so it was supposed to be something like

Code: 
Brackets       [ i.e 1+3  ]    - 6/2(1+2)
Brackets       [ i.e 2(3) ]     - 6/2(3)
Multiplication [ i.e 2*3  ]    - 6/2*3
Division                       - 6/6

= 1

But looking at some of the explanations in this thread i am totally confused now. :bonk:
 
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Creaxel_photo said:
Well surely division and multiplication have same priority but in this case it's a number next to a bracket which means the calculations inside the bracket will multiply by the number next to it. So first thing is 2(2+1) will be 2(3) = 6. then we do the division 6/6 which is 1.
If you say to do the division first then it had to be like this 6/2*(2+1) this way you'd can get 9
Click to expand...

Surely saying 6 / 2 (3) is EXACTLY the same as saying 6 / 2 x 3 isn't it?

and as division and multiplication are treated equally you work from left to right, which gives you 9
 
:lol:

This is how I understand it. I'm certain the brackets are dropped once that calculation inside them has been completed yet the multiplication operation still applies.

6/2(1+2)

BODMAS
Brackets (2+1)=3 therefore 6/2*3

BODMAS have equal priority, then work from left to right
Divide Multiply 6/2*3 = 9
 
antihero said:
Surely saying 6 / 2 (3) is EXACTLY the same as saying 6 / 2 x 3 isn't it?

and as division and multiplication are treated equally you work from left to right, which gives you 9
Click to expand...

Yes but because of 2(3) dont you have to sort out the brackets first? i.e. you multiply 2 by 3 first to remove the bracket?
 
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Defiance said:
It depends how the sum is written and the sum at the top of your example is not written with brackets so is not a direct comparator.

The key here is the use of the proper divided sign which you can't replicate properly on these algebra websites.

If the sum were written as 6/2 written as a fraction next to (1+2) then the answer is 9.

When it is written as 6 (divided sign) 2(1+2) then the sequence rule of parenthesis, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction comes into play.

Therefore the sum is 6 divided by 2(3) with parenthesis resolved.

It then becomes 6 divided by 6 with multiplication completed.

Then the answer is 1 after division is applied.

A website algebra website can't see that subtlety as it can't recognise both symbols.
Click to expand...

Does it?

Parentheses just states that everything in brackets is resolved first, then exponents, then multiply/divide (whichever comes first, left to right), then add/subtract (whichever first, left to right).

Multiplication and division are equal, so whichever comes first, left to right is resolved first. Just because a number is sat next to a bracket doesn't mean it takes priority.

6 divided by 2 (1+2) is EXACTLY THE SAME as
6 divided by 2 multipled by (1+2). Enforcing the rule of parentheses;
6 divided by 2 multiplied by 3. The multiplication is NOT done first. They are both eqaul so division is done first (left to right)......

6 divided by 2 multiplied by 3 = 9
 
I'd have said 1 as the way it is written suggests 6 divided by (some stuff in brackets that needs working out first)

My spreadsheet says 9 when I input it but it adds in a * symbol between the 2 and the (.

Anyone got a copy of mathematica??

I think the way it is written is ambiguous. When someone says working left to right, does it mean starting from the beginning work left to right or does it mean when you have parenthesis work out to the left of the next priority calculation? It seems more logical to treat it as a working out leftwards and each new bit becomes a new calculation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_operations

Clear as mud!

I actually think it is both depending on whether there is a black or white cat in the box.
 
6/[2*(1+2)]
6/[2*(3)]
6/[2*3]
6/6
=1

That is how it should be worked out according to the OP.
 
It seems to be down to the bracket removal. Some seem to be seeing (me included) the bracket as something that only disappears when the outer value is multiplied with the inner value. Others see the brackets disappear and substitute a multiplication symbol.... so us 1 crowd end up with 6 divided by 2(3) ( 6 / 2(3) )and the 9 crowd end up with 6 divided by 2 multiplied by 3 (6 / 2 * 3 ) which is slightly different.
 
...and this thread only reinforces my delight to not continue studying maths beyond GCSE, despite the pleas from my maths teachers at the time!
 
srichards said:
It seems to be down to the bracket removal. Some seem to be seeing (me included) the bracket as something that only disappears when the outer value is multiplied with the inner value. Others see the brackets disappear and substitute a multiplication symbol.... so us 1 crowd end up with 6 divided by 2(3) ( 6 / 2(3) )and the 9 crowd end up with 6 divided by 2 multiplied by 3 (6 / 2 * 3 ) which is slightly different.
Click to expand...

but why are you working out 2(3) first? The only reaon you should do it first is with more brackets (2(3))

just because the brackets are there means nothing, 2(3) is just another way of saying 2 multiplied by 3, and as multiply and divide are equal AND you work from left to right, you divide first THEN multiply (in this instance)

6 divided by 2(3) is EXACTLY the same as 6 divided by 2 multiplied by 3. Either way the answer is 9.

The only way to get 1 is to add more brackets;

6 divided by (2 multipled by (1+2))
 
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If you write down the sum on paper you should have just the 6 on top. The 2(1+2) should be underneath. Making the answer 1. It seems the 9 crowd are imagining brackets (6/2)(1+2) but that is wrong based on how the OP wrote the sum. The sum really should have been written as 6/[2*(1+2)] so as to be clear.

When written like that and BODMAS applied you would get 1 as the answer.
 
antihero said:
Surely saying 6 / 2 (3) is EXACTLY the same as saying 6 / 2 x 3 isn't it?

and as division and multiplication are treated equally you work from left to right, which gives you 9
Click to expand...

No it's not the same when you have a bracket you will first calculate it, it acts like a multiplication but has priority over it. So the answer would be 1.
 
Creaxel_photo said:
No it's not the same when you have a bracket you will first calculate it, it acts like a multiplication but has priority over it. So the answer would be 1.
Click to expand...

No it doesn't, the sum INSIDE the brackets takes priority, then because there is just a divide and multiplication whichever comes first left to right wins ie DIVIDE
 
Ill say again :lol:....or can someone show me a mathematical rule where you need to add brackets once you have exploded a pair?:shrug:

6/2(1+2)

There is only ONE set of brackets (1+2) = 3 Bodmas

6/2*3 = 9


EDIT: Enter it into Windows Calc.exe in Scientific View with brackets showing 6/2*(1+2)=
 
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pentaprison said:
Oh, if anyone isn't sure then you can enter this into excel or any other spreadsheet...

=6/2*(1+2)
Click to expand...

This gives 9 and I believe it to be correct. Yes, the brackets take priority in that you work that sum out first (3 in this case) but you still work left to right for the total sum, therefore it is 6/2=3 then 3*3 = 9
 
Incidently, if you put the sum into google it changes the format to (6 / 2) * (1 + 2) = 9
 
Definitely 1.
Multiply Divide Add Subtract.

None of this multiply and divide have equal status nonsense.
 
(6/2)(1+2) is a completely different sum!

Written on paper you would have:
(6/2)(1+2)
(3)(3)
=9

This states 6 divided 2, and then multiply by 3.

The original sum is 6, divided by 2 multiplied by 3.

Or stated in numbers:
6/[2*(1+2)]
this is the way I believe that the OP meant to write the sum.
 
How about Nikon v Canon then it would be easier.....Nikon!!!!!


9 :p
 
antihero said:
Does it?

Parentheses just states that everything in brackets is resolved first, then exponents, then multiply/divide (whichever comes first, left to right), then add/subtract (whichever first, left to right).

Multiplication and division are equal, so whichever comes first, left to right is resolved first. Just because a number is sat next to a bracket doesn't mean it takes priority.

6 divided by 2 (1+2) is EXACTLY THE SAME as
6 divided by 2 multipled by (1+2). Enforcing the rule of parentheses;
6 divided by 2 multiplied by 3. The multiplication is NOT done first. They are both eqaul so division is done first (left to right)......

6 divided by 2 multiplied by 3 = 9
Click to expand...

The brackets are not resolved until they are removed therefore 2(3) has to be completed before moving on to division.

The use of implied multiplication also would dictate that 2 and (3) are intended to be multiplied together independently of any other guideline.

In addition, how would BODMAS work if the sum was written like this ? :

6
______
2(1+2)

Like any rule there are times when it has to be broken...
 
If I am buying make it 1, if you are buying, I'll have 9!
 
Redddraggon is absolutely correct. :clap:

An answer other than ONE is wrong!!
 
Yup RD is spot on.

Another way of looking at this is as follows:

In 6 ÷ 2(1 + 2) the entire part of the calculation to the right of the division sign is a sub calculation, therefore the answer is always going to be one.


If, however, the calculation had been written as:

6 ÷ 2 x (1 + 2)

The result would have been nine.

In the initial calc, the two is a multiplier of the bracketed sum, and as such gets resolved before the division.
 
I'd always understood that brackets were addressed first in any calculation. And by addressed I mean worked with until they are removed. Meaning....
6/2(1+2)=
6/2(3)=
6/6=1

if the calculation was written as 6/2*(1+2) then that's different in my understanding.
 
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