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?

[jim360]

For example, sometimes I will type (1+2) as ( 1 + 2 ). This is a literal "expansion of brackets", I suppose... but it's just to aid reading, not to change the mathematical sense of the expression. In this case, you could type 6 / 2(1+2) as 6 / 2 ( 1 + 2 ) or as 6/2(1+2); all expressions are exactly equivalent to each other.

[Prudie]

Did that last night
http://allfinancialmatters.com/2015/05/18/solving-6212-once-and-for-all/

As with countless other discussions about Bodmas (which is made up not a natural phenomenon) etc on here, personal interpretation is a major factor

[jim360]

"...Bodmas (which is made up not a natural phenomenon)..."

It is misleading to call it made-up. The real numbers necessarily follow this order (at least in the sense of division and multiplication being preferred to addition and subtraction -- one can prove that this must be the case); the personal preference you refer to is, in part, true, but it would be better to say that anyone who writes 6/2(1+2) = 1 is abusing the notation by treating / in a sense it should not be given. Your link makes the same mistake; some of the comments attached point this out. Sadly, the "controversy" will continue, but it is really a case of people who don't quite understand how / works or project onto it a meaning it does not actually have.

[Togo]

https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110427155042AACb7d8

[DTCwordfan]

God Bless St Theresa of Calcutta - she wouldn't have put up with this verbal or so-called logical masturbation.

[jno]

mathematical notation certainly should be fixed, so it's surprising to find there are disputes like these (and it's not just the ignorant like me who are involved).

I found this interesting
http://www.matthewcompher.com/posts/trouble-with-semantics-the-obelus-or-division-symbol-%C3%B7/

[whiskeryron]

After reading all this & sadly admitting that I know not how to work it out for myself I have decided to seek a psychiatric establishment & book myself in, unless I am lucky enough to hide somewhere in Tibet.

[mibn2cweus]

The overwhelming evidence suggests that statements such as the one framing this thread are far too ambiguous, apart from an accompanying explanation of the order of operations to be used in coming to a definitive answer.

Considering the ambiguity and subsequent varied interpretations of certain religious texts, perhaps this should be dubbed . . . "The God Equation".

https://www.google.com/search?q=a%2Fb(c%2Bd)&rlz=1C1CHMI_enUS330US331&;oq=a%2Fb(c%2Bd&aqs=chrome.1.69i58j0j69i57j0l3.18666j0j7&sourceid=chrome&;ie=UTF-8#safe=off&q=a%2Fb(c%2Bd)%3D%3F+order+of+operations

[mibn2cweus]

Apologies, ^ wrong link ^

https://math.berkeley.edu/~gbergman/misc/numbers/ord_ops.html

[wildwood]

It is clear why I flunked at math. I see the bracket first so change that sum to 2. So my (il)logic is 6/22=3.666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666............

If the "2" and the "(1+2)" are supposed to be multiplied, why isn't there a "×" between them.

[Cloverjo]

Wildwood, I can't see how you get 6/22 from that. I also can't see how the OP gets the answer to be 7. I can see arguments for 1 and 9, but accept that 9 is the correct answer, going by BODMAS.

[jennyjoan]

6/2 =3 (1+2) = 6 That is what I am getting.

[Jackdaw33]

3 x 3 = 6? Only someone Irish could come up with that.

[waterboatman]

I see no sign between 6/2 and (1+2). So. 1+2 =3. 6 divided by 2 =3.

So. three possible answers. If the missing sign is -, the answer is 0. if the missing sign is +, the answer is 6. If the missing sign is x the answer is 9.

[Old_Geezer]

If there is a figure outside the bracket then convention says that is a multiple (i.e. in this case two lots of). Never know anyone to infer any other mathematical function. Thus multiplication is impled.

[waterboatman]

Therefore the answer is 9.

[Old_Geezer]

Probably needs a smiley JD

[waterboatman]

:o}

[Old_Geezer]

22 is easy Jo
The + is clearly in error and should be a ×
1×2=2 which is the units figure
We are already given the tens figure as 2
So that's two little ducks

[Old_Geezer]

Also mib multiplied out the bracket by the 2 first, but then divided the 6 only by the first of the two resulting terms and so was in a right muddle. But I can see why that looked ok on the face of it.