6 / 2(1+2) = 7

[mibn2cweus]

While the world argues over whether the correct answer is 1 or 9 . . . I get 7 as the answer.

So what's the problem with everyone else?

[Peter Pedant]

// Thank you, clover! It means a lot to see that.//

dont go Jim
I am just starting a journey thro Burton's Elementary Number theory and I need you to explain the hard bits....

[jim360]

So long as it's not because I am going senile in my young age... :P

[Mamyalynne]

Burtons make Jammie Dodgers Peter, now I can help with those :-)

[tonyav]

Their Wagon Wheels ain't bad either, Mamya.

[Cloverjo]

I don't think you are, Jim. :))

[Mamyalynne]

True is that Tony.

[Jackdaw33]

...nor their beer.

[tonyav]

Yep, jd.

Wasn't to keen on their fifty bob suits though.

[Togo]

I,ve seen it all on here now. Ped's asking young jim lad to explain his hard bits. Mock head shake.

[Old_Geezer]

I thought I'd answered this early on.

/ is the equivalent of ÷ and refers to the next term, it doesn't imply everything that comes afterwards. To achieve that you need to put all that follows the / in brackets ().

It probably helps clarity if the implied × was first inserted between the 2 and the (
Then separation becomes clearer.

Hope that clears up any misunderstanding.

[jno]

//there is is difference between 6/2(1+2) and 6/(2(1+2))//

jim, I'm no mathematician and I've never heard of BODMAS. However, I note that the OP doesn't say 6/2(1+2), it says 6 / 2(1+2). In other words, the spacing fulfils the function of the second pair of brackets you've inserted. Which is why I make the answer 1.

[Togo]

There is not an extra space in the op question. It reads 6 / 2(1+2) The top of the backslash is the same distance from the 2 as the bottom of it is from the 1

[Prudie]

This post lost its fun element, I'm sticking with 1

[Lie-in King]

42.

[Mamyalynne]

There's still some Communion wine left.

[Lie-in King]

Yum

[Prudie]

A quick swig might help :=)

[jno]

I know. I'm pointing to the difference between 6/2(1+2) - with no spaces - and 6 / 2(1+2) - with a space on either side of the slash (isn't it a forward slash?). I think this makes 2(1+2) a separate entity, so it isn't a matter of 6/2 and 6/(1+2)

[jno]

... that was to Togo

[jim360]

A space has no meaning in mathematical notation, it's just a question of how condensed or not your writing is. Spacing is often inserted usefully to help avoid the expression being too condensed but does not affect the parsing. Again, you can feel free to check this by copying and pasting the expression given in the title into Wolfram and/ or Google, and you will still get the answer 9.