SOLUTION: 6/2 (1+2)=?

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Question 443171: 6/2 (1+2)=?
Found 2 solutions by CubeyThePenguin, math_helper:
Answer by CubeyThePenguin(3113) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
There are two ways to interpret the problem.

6/(2(1 + 2))
= 6/(2(3))
= 6/6
= 1

or:

6/2 * (1 + 2)
= 3 * 3
= 9

Answer by math_helper(2461) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


As written, there is only one interpretation:



6/2(1+2) = 6/2*(1+2) = 3*(1+2) = 3*3 = 9



The shorthand notation 2(1+2) must always be remembered to be 2*(1+2) and, following the order of operations (PEMDAS), one does multiplications and divisions from left to right as they appear.    





To get an answer of "1", one must write "6/(2(1+2))" or  "6/(2*(1+2))"  --- it is not arbitrary in Mathematics.