Thread: simple algebra riddle

6÷2(1+2)=?

1 or 9 the answer is !!! i think it is 1
6/2*3 = 6/6=1

Originally Posted by lebanon

6÷2(1+2)=?

1 or 9 the answer is !!! i think it is 1
6/2*3 = 6/6=1

PEMDAS

Parenthesis, Exponents, Multiplication and Division in the order they occur from left to right in the problem, Addition and Subtraction in any order.

6/2(1 + 2)

6/2*3

3*3

Sorry, the answer is 9

Originally Posted by lebanon

6÷2(1+2)=?

1 or 9 the answer is !!! i think it is 1
6/2*3 = 6/6=1

... which just goes to show that you should always use brackets. The expression x÷yz is ambiguous. So you should always specify whether you mean (x÷y)z or x÷(yz).

Originally Posted by lebanon

6÷2(1+2)=?

1 or 9 the answer is !!! i think it is 1
6/2*3 = 6/6=1

9 IS THE ANSWER !
6÷2(1+2)
=
6/2(3)
3 x 3
= 9

PEMDAS

Parenthesis, Exponents, Multiplication and Division in the order they occur from left to right in the problem, Addition and Subtraction in any order.

In India , We refer it as PBODMAS
Powers or indices rule of evaluation, Brackets/Parenthesis, OF(not necessary though, it is way of showing "x"), Division , Multiplication , Addition and Subtraction.

the trouble with PEMDAS (or PBODMAS) is that one can never be confident the originator of the expression was actually thinking along the same lines....

for this reason, division is evil, and should be banished as a concept from our minds. multiplication may be given a reprieve, but only if it behaves itself.

subtraction has similar problems, and i am inclined to only tolerate it for its brevity.

Originally Posted by Deveno

the trouble with PEMDAS (or PBODMAS) is that one can never be confident the originator of the expression was actually thinking along the same lines....

for this reason, division is evil, and should be banished as a concept from our minds. multiplication may be given a reprieve, but only if it behaves itself.

subtraction has similar problems, and i am inclined to only tolerate it for its brevity.

I treat all the operators alike though.

The question has been answered. I can't help feeling this question is like the spate of spam that was spreading across the world wide web a while back.