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Our public schools suck! Adults that cant do math...

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I thought it was 1 too but guess if you strictly go with order of operation it kinda makes sense that it's 9... made a C++ program to test and sure enough it's 9. I was treating the division more like left side divided by right side, but guess that's not how it works as division is same priority as multiplication.
 
Fayd said:
\
Both solutions can be argued for within Order of Operations (again, i'm saying distribution is a function of parenthesis). i'm convinced the reason for having order of operations is for smug idiots to pull this kind of shit.
Click to expand...

Except neither solution has anything to do with the order of operations as you are just using properties to simplify (rewrite the problem) before you actually solve (using order of operations).

In any case, you could solve the problem in the OP by utilizing the distributive property, although you would generally just do the addition since they are like terms. But if you did decide to go that route, you would distribute before you were actually solving the problem.
 
Who cares? This type of stuff is not needed in the every day real world with normal people. I can't remember the last time I took a math class. I can add, subtract, multiply, divide, and I have a cell phone with scientific calculator so I don't care.
 
I don't remember ever seeing a problem written with the actual division sign when we were learning the order of operations..we always used either ______ or a /
 
LumbergTech said:
I don't remember ever seeing a problem written with the actual division sign when we were learning the order of operations..we always used either ______ or a /
Click to expand...

Yeah same. Only time I've seen the division symbol is if it was a very basic equation or sub equation. For example 2 numbers inside parenthesis.
 
What if I broke it down like this:

6
- (1+2)
2


6
-
2(1+2)

I think this is what Fayd was referring to. It just depends how one interprets it from the beginning.
 
Scholzpdx said:
This specifically states "divided by" as well. They didn't use a slash (/) to divide, it's specifically written to be set up the way that I did. Even if it wasn't the case, when ambiguity presents itself, you must put each term in parenthesis to avoid confusion. and 2(1+2) is one term since it's attached to parenthesis.

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

and for some reason you all think it is...

(6)/(2)(1+2)

For which it is not. It's not 9. Plugging in stated problem as-is will not follow order of operations.
Click to expand...

Then you need to write a strongly worded letter to Microsoft because Excel gives you 9.
 
The relevant rules:

1. Brackets means the inside is evaluated first: A*B*(1+2) = A*B*3
2. Juxtaposition is a shorthand for multiplication: A*B(C) = A*B*C = ABC.
3. Multiplication and division have the same precedence.
4. Multiplication and division are both left-associative, meaning if there are two or more of them in sequence, you do them left to right: A/B*C = (A/B)*C, and A*B/C = (A*B)/C.

Crucially for rule #1 and #2, "brackets evaluated first" doesn't mean the juxtaposition/multiplication is evaluated first, it only means that the inside is evaluated first.

Applying these rules to the problem:

6/2(1+2) = 6/2*(3) -- #1
= 6/2*3 -- #2
= (6/2)*3 -- #3, #4
= 3*3 -- #1
= 9

6/2(1+2) = 1 would only be true if multiplication had higher precedence than division, if multiplication and division were right-associative, or if juxtaposition were more than a shorthand for multiplication.

And back to lurking.

(And no, these rules aren't ambiguous; they've been agreed upon since the 19th century. Arbitrary, yes, ambiguous, no.)
 
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So...moral of the thread:

SheHateme and Scholzpdx are total dumbasses, who have made complete fools and asshats of themselves for not only being so painfully and demonstrably wrong, but by being so smug and confrontational about their ignorance.

Great job, guys.
 
Red Squirrel said:
I thought it was 1 too but guess if you strictly go with order of operation it kinda makes sense that it's 9... made a C++ program to test and sure enough it's 9. I was treating the division more like left side divided by right side, but guess that's not how it works as division is same priority as multiplication.
Click to expand...

Damn nerd alert! Ever hear if excel?
 
Grew up in Europe, multiplication division have the same order or precedence. Americans get stuck on mnemonics, rather than realizing that it's arbitrary and should use parenthesis for clarity.
 
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