woolybear Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 This was shared on my facebook. Apparently a lot of people get the answer wrong. I'm almost sure the answer is 9. Can anyone confirm this or tell me otherwise? tia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.Dup. Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 1, right? No, I think you're right, it's 9. Parentheses first, then left to right. Right? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 Looks like 1 to me too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heatherwith4 Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 I thought it was 1. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissiK Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 I thought it was 9. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 Order of operations, BEDMAS. Therefore, 6/2(3) =6/6 =1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coffeemama Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 6 / 2(1+2) 6 / 2(3) 6/2= 3 3(3) = 9 That's what I get anyway 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 Order of operations, BEDMAS. Therefore, 6/2(3) =6/6 =1 But order of operations says you do multiplication and division left to right, right? So you would do 6/2 before 2(3). 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 I was taught that brackets are first, so therefore, you have to eliminate the 3 in the bracket before the division. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 It's 9, here's a video to show you how to solve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrixieB Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 Wolfram Alpha says 9. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StartingOver Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 The answer is 9. http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=JPe1aBW_YCg&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DJPe1aBW_YCg 6/2 (2+1)=x 6/2 (3) 3 (3) This is multiplied. x=9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 Depends. It isn't possible to see how it is supposed to be written. Is it 6 over 2(2+1)? or 6 division symbol 2(2+1)? If the first, then you solve the bottom then divide to get 1. If the second, then you add to get 3, then work from left to right to get 9. Impossible to tell which way it is supposed to be written from the problem you gave. 21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfletcher8091 Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 I was taught that brackets are first, so therefore, you have to eliminate the 3 in the bracket before the division. This is what I thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheryl Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 This was shared on my facebook. Apparently a lot of people get the answer wrong. I'm almost sure the answer is 9. Can anyone confirm this or tell me otherwise? tia. i haven't read the responses yet, but i get "1". 1+2 = 3 3 x 2 = 6 6 divided 6 = 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violet Crown Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 Lolly is right; it's presented ambiguously. 6/2(2+1)=9 6/[2(2+1)]=1 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Izzy Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 It's 9. I saw this on FB too and even shared it on my wall to see what people thought. There were quite a few that said 1 but I still think 9. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paula in MS Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 The answer is one. Any time you have a number beside the parentheses, you are going to use the distributive property. This problem requires that you distribute the 2 to what is in the parentheses. You must do this before going left to right. If it was set up 2x(1+2), I might assume the problem should be worked the other way. Usually, when you set up a problem 2(1+2), it is assumed that you distribute first. It could have been made clearer, though. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joker Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 If it has the words 'divided by' and everything else in the OP is the same, the answer is 1 because you've separated the terms. They've made a distinction by using numbers, words, and symbols. If it has only symbols, the answer is 9. This according to my dh (who has the math degree). 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybear Posted December 29, 2012 Author Share Posted December 29, 2012 Sorry. I couldn't find a division symbol on my keyboard. It is 6 division symbol 2 (1+2). I solved the parenthesis first. Then do division and/or multiplication working from from left to right. Therefor, I get this: 6 division symbol 2 (1+2) 6 division symbol 2 (3) Then working from left to right: 6 div. 2 = 3 Then you have: 3 (3) which equals 3 times 3 = 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paula in MS Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 I think it would be helpful to make the problem mean something. The 2(1+2) implies that you have 2 of 1+2. Maybe you have 2 bowls of fruit. Each bowl has 1 apple and 2 oranges. There are 6 pieces of fruit. I have a difficult time coming up with anything any other way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb_ Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 At first glance, I said 1 because I multiplied before dividing (probably because it said the words "divided by" rather than showing the symbol...which was probably the intention). This is why I make my kids do the work on paper even if it makes sense in their heads. If I had written it down, I would have done it this way: 6/2 (2+1) = X 6/2 * (3) = X 3 * 3 = 9 Although 6 over the result of 2(2+1) = 1 is also correct the way the original problem is written. But yeah, I think it's deliberately ambiguous and designed to trip people up, which says more about the designer of the problem than about anyone attempting to solve it :tongue_smilie: 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audrey Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 This was shared on my facebook. Apparently a lot of people get the answer wrong. I'm almost sure the answer is 9. Can anyone confirm this or tell me otherwise? tia. The answer is 1. order of operations is: brackets exponents multiplication/division addition/subtraction So you solve in brackets first (3) Then multiply 2x3=6 6/6=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audrey Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 If it has the words 'divided by' and everything else in the OP is the same, the answer is 1 because you've separated the terms. They've made a distinction by using numbers, words, and symbols. If it has only symbols, the answer is 9. This according to my dh (who has the math degree). That's what I was going by, as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misty.warden Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 Order of operations, BEDMAS. Therefore, 6/2(3) =6/6 =1 BEDMAS and then solve left to right. Only things within parentheses take precedence, not multiplication due to parentheses touching an adjacent number. Therefore, 6/2(3) =3(3) =9 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
readinmom Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 I got 1, so therefore the answer is probably 9. Curse of the English major! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
readinmom Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 Although I could suggest writing an essay about how it makes you feel when you discovered you got the right/wrong answer, and how it changed your life. 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annandatje Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 Order of operations: Please excuse my dear aunt Sally. PEMDAS. PE: You first calculate numbers with exponents and what is inside parenthesis. MD: Then moving from left to right, do the multiplication and division. AS: Finally moving from left to right, do the addition and subtraction. Order of operations problems are generally presented all on one line.. 6 / 2 ( 2 + 1 ) Parenthesis and exponents: 6 / 2 ( 3 ) Multiplication and division: 3 ( 3 ) = 9 There is no addition or subtraction left to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audrey Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 Order of operations: Please excuse my dear aunt Sally. PEMDAS. PE: You first calculate numbers with exponents and what is inside parenthesis. MD: Then moving from left to right, do the multiplication and division. AS: Finally moving from left to right, do the addition and subtraction. Order of operations problems are generally presented all on one line.. 6 / 2 ( 2 + 1 ) Parenthesis and exponents: 6 / 2 ( 3 ) Multiplication and division: 3 ( 3 ) = 9 There is no addition or subtraction left to do. Ah, this is why I was not a math major. I didn't go left to right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plateau Mama Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 Once you solved what was in the brackets (2+1) the brackets are irrelevent. So the problem could then be written 6/2*3 which would be 9. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paula in MS Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 I don't think the issue is orders of operations at all. It is that 2(1+2) is always interpreted as one expression. It is as good as (2(1+2)). Otherwise it would be denoted 2x(1+2). This has always been my experience. Does that make sense? What I'm trying to say is that if the answer was 9, it would have been written as 6 divided by 2 times (1+2). 6 divided by 2(1+2) is generally interpreted as 6 divided by (2(1+2)) or 6 divided by (2+4). Am I the only one who has come across this? I'm sure there is some official rule somewhere. It is starting to bother me. :) 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MistyMountain Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 I don't think the issue is orders of operations at all. It is that 2(1+2) is always interpreted as one expression. It is as good as (2(1+2)). Otherwise it would be denoted 2x(1+2). This has always been my experience. Does that make sense? What I'm trying to say is that if the answer was 9, it would have been written as 6 divided by 2 times (1+2). 6 divided by 2(1+2) is generally interpreted as 6 divided by (2(1+2)) or 6 divided by (2+4). Am I the only one who has come across this? I'm sure there is some official rule somewhere. It is starting to bother me. :) That is what I thought too. I thought 2(1+2) was one expression. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paula in MS Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 I just think that (2(1+2)) is implied from 2(1+2). It has been my experience, anyway. You could also work it this way and get 7. 6 divided by 2(1+2)= 6 divided by 2 + 4= 3+ 4= 7. But this, again is wrong because the parentheses are still implied and should be 6 divided by (2+4) which is, again, 1. :). The way the expression is written implies 6 divided by 2 of (1+2) not 6 divided by 2 times 3. Sometimes there is more than just pemdas. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anabelneri Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 I'm with the syntax error folks; I ended up with 1 initially but 9 also makes sense to me 6/2(1+2) change the first 2 to x 6/x(1+2) Option "1": 6/x(1+2) 6/(x+2x) [but x=2 so] 6/(2+4) 6/6 1 Option "9": 6/x(1+2) (6(1+2))/x (6+12)/x [but x=2 so] 18/2 9 My natural inclination is to read it as the whole of 2(1+2) is in the denominator, especially when I stick in x for the 2. But it's really not clear where they intended (1+2) to land, which as a PP pointed out, it's a mathematical error on the part of the initial writer of the problem. :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chepyl Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ann Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 I also get 1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomatHWTK Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 Funny and gives an answer: http://www.askamathematician.com/2011/04/q-how-do-you-calculate-6212-or-48293-whats-the-deal-with-this-orders-of-operation-business/ Didn't think math could make me LOL- then again, I've not had much sleep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 Funny and gives an answer: http://www.askamathe...ation-business/ Didn't think math could make me LOL- then again, I've not had much sleep. Oh that was funny to read--all the discussion in the comments among a variety of mathematically minded folks. And shows that there is some inherent ambiguity in this particular problem and therefor a reasonable case can be made for more than one answer--9, or 1, or 7. Take your pick...it's a good thing that in real life problems aren't just a series of numbers and symbols but represent real situations, and hopefully the person setting up the problem based on a real situation will take care to set it up in a way that unambiguously represents that situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 I saw this on fb too, and I'm with the 1 people. The way I was taught, you'd distribute the two first, then go left to right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trez Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 I'm siding in with the 9 people (must admit that initially I jumped to 1 due to the english writing). I agree that once the operation within the brackets is done, there is no operation within brackets to be done. in essence the brackets disappear and division/multiplication are done left to right. Definitely in how the problem is written though: 6 / 2(1+2) or 6/(2(1+2)) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 I'm siding in with the 9 people (must admit that initially I jumped to 1 due to the english writing). I agree that once the operation within the brackets is done, there is no operation within brackets to be done. in essence the brackets disappear and division/multiplication are done left to right. Definitely in how the problem is written though: 6 / 2(1+2) or 6/(2(1+2)) In Algebra and above, whatever is below the division sign (the denominator of a fraction) is done first, as if in brackets, but no brackets are needed. 6 ---------- = 1 2(1+2) When the problem says 6 divided by 2(1+2), I do see that as 6 divided by the whole expression, as if it were in the denominator of a fraction. The fact that the expression is written algebraically (without the "times" sign) strengthens that assumption. I agree that if it were written as a simple arithmetic problem, it should be 6 divided by 2 times (1+2), which would result in 6/2*(1+2) = 9 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithManor Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 The three would still be in parentheses after 1 + 2 is done first due to order of operations. The parentheses must be eliminated before the division can take place. Therefore, the 2 must be distributed to the three. This gives an answer of six and then it is six/six. Most people are skipping that fact that parentheses was NOT eliminated simply by doing the addition. That answer would still be inside the () 2(3) must be solved before the simple division outside of (). Essentially, 2(1+2) is all one unit or expression. It is a simple issue of order of operations, but it is easy to overlook that fact that after adding the two numbers, the answer is still in (). Dh has a bachelor's in mathematics and agrees with me. The answer is one. Faith 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 I think the problem is stupid as written. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 But..but...but... If you Canadians call parentheses brackets, what do you call parentheses? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaKinVA Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 I'm no math major...I said one. DH said 9. However, when I set the problems up as 6/2(1+2) as a fractional equation (which is a valid manner of interpreting that problem), he came up with 1. I guess I just don't read 6/2(1+2) as the same as 6/2*(1+2). I don't recall any problems in any of the Pre-Algebra, or Algebra programs we've got here that have set anything up like the OP problem 6/2(1+2) where my answer would have been incorrect (we have Foerster's, TT, and AoPS). But, I could check ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paula in MS Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 I agree with FaithManor. The reality is, you will never see this problem in a 5th or 6th grade textbook where they want you to apply pemdas. It would be clarified with a x sign. In algebra and above, you would just assume it was one expression because people use this notation as shorthand to imply parentheses. It is more about convention or common usage than order or operations, and our kids will not have to worry about this in real life. In an algebra class this would have been set up as 6 over 2(1+2), which would be simplified 3 over (1+2) which is one. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paula in MS Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 Think about this. How would you solve 6 divided by 2x = 1? Would you solve it 3x = 1, x =1/3? No. It would be 2x = 6, x = 3. Just like you have 2 xs, you have 2--1+2s. It is the same concept. 2(1+2) goes together like 2x. At the algebra level, it is just implied. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joker Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 Think about this. How would you solve 6 divided by 2x = 1? Would you solve it 3x = 1, x =1/3? No. It would be 2x = 6, x = 3. Just like you have 2 xs, you have 2--1+2s. It is the same concept. 2(1+2) goes together like 2x. At the algebra level, it is just implied. If it is 6/2x=1, the answer is x=1/3. If it is 6 divided by 2x=1, then the answer is x=3. If there were brackets around 2x, then the answer would be 3 in 6/[2x]=1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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