What is the exact answer for 6 ÷ 2(1+2)?

Malaysia
May 30, 2011 11:12am CST
What is the exact answer for 6 ÷ 2(1+2)? I have been at Facebook for a long time just to see how people response to this question. So what would you think is the answer for it? Please share your opinion and I am glad to see you all here.
25 responses
• Romania
30 May 11
6/2(1+2)= 6/2+4 = 6/6 = 1 This is the answer:)
1 person likes this
@himzey (1321)
• India
30 May 11
Thanks Granny ! I am happy that there are people like you who try to understand what the question is, rather than banging their heads on the wall applying BODMAS. And for them, last time- The question says divide six by a number you obtain from solving 2(2+1). huh... as soon as divide come in place you got to keep every thing following it in the denominator. Think hard ...
1 person likes this
@sjvg1976 (41131)
• Delhi, India
31 May 11
hi garnny can you explain how you got 4 in the solution.It should be 3 i suppose & now if you calculate it become: 6/2(3) now if you forget bodmas as you people don't want to accept it.We should do division before multiplication so it becomes: 6/2=3 Then multiplication 3( from division)*3( from bracket)=9.
• Malaysia
31 May 11
Hello granny2011, I am glad to see your response over here. You got exactly what am I trying to explain to others. 6 is always the numerator whilst 2(1+2) is always denominator. It was a simple mathematical question, but hundred millions around the globe made it wrong.
@DoctorDidi (7018)
• India
30 May 11
The correct answer is 1. Let me explain it; 6 ÷ 2(1+2)=6 ÷ 2(3)=6 ÷ 6 =1.
1 person likes this
@himzey (1321)
• India
30 May 11
Count me in too. :) I've tried to prove it and give the exact meaning of bodmas. See m response. :)
1 person likes this
@petersum (4522)
• United States
30 May 11
I'm with you on that, but I don't know how we can actually prove it!
1 person likes this
@sjvg1976 (41131)
• Delhi, India
31 May 11
doctor didi & petersum i have given the step wise calculation above please confirm still have any doubts.
@eLsMarie (4346)
• Philippines
31 May 11
I think the answer is 1... Am I correct or am I the only one who answered 1? Anyways, I followed MDAS that stands for Multiplication Division Addition and Subtraction. But I added 2 and 1 first, then I multiplied it with 2, and from there I got 1 when I divided 6 by 6.
@eLsMarie (4346)
• Philippines
1 Jun 11
Hi TransLyric! I don't know why they managed to prefer 9 as the correct answer. Now, I'm beginning to worry if my answer is really right. Anyways, why were you able to come up with this kind of discussion? It's kinda tricky, especially that I hate Math...
• Malaysia
31 May 11
Hello eLsMarie, I am glad to see your response over here. I start to think that the answer is really 1 instead of 9. Not only you manage to answer it but hundred of millions from the globe get the same answer. However, there are also hundred of millions that get 9 as the answer. But I still stick on my sense, that's 1!!!
@petersum (4522)
• United States
30 May 11
The answer is one! Brackets first is the rule! Then multiplication, followed by division.
@zazen6 (169)
• Philippines
30 May 11
I am not familiar with BODMAS. I only remembers My Dear Aunt Sally (MDAS). LOL
@zazen6 (169)
• Philippines
30 May 11
*remembered
@sjvg1976 (41131)
• Delhi, India
30 May 11
I think the division comes first as per the rule B O D M A S - ( bracket,off,division,multiply,addition,subtraction).
• Philippines
31 May 11
Hi TransLyric, This question seems perplexing but in truth it is a simple numerical equation where just 2 numbers are involved, number six and the expanded number of 2(1+2). It's the same as writing the equation as 6÷(2(1+2))= X. I go with Kimzey and Petersum. You have to treat 2(1+2) as one number in expanded form. Therefore, before solving the equation just like in mixed numbers where fractions are involved, the expanded number should first be simplified which means that 2 is multiplied to 1+2 and that gives 6 for an answer, thereafter you can only compute for the answer to the equation as 6 ÷ 6 = X and which answer is therefore 1. Computing for it 2 ways as follows: 6 ÷ 2(1 + 2) = X 6 ÷ (2 + 4) = X 6 ÷ 6 = X 1 = X or 6 ÷ 2(1 + 2) = X 6 ÷ 2(3)= X 6 ÷ 6 = X 1 = X If the equation is written as 6÷2 x (1+2) = X or (6÷2)(1+2)=X, the answer would have been 9. This now involves multiplication of 2 numbers in expanded form, the 6÷2 and the 1+2 or 3 X 3 = 9. I hope this helps.
@himzey (1321)
• India
31 May 11
Its ok Angel. No probz with that.. And thanks for your detailed description, in which you looked at both sides of the problem; 9 & 1. May be others will get it too. :)
• Philippines
31 May 11
I'm sorry, it's Himzey and not Kimzey.
• Philippines
31 May 11
Hello again TransLyric, Thanks for choosing my response as the B.R. and Himzey, you're welcome! A nice day to all!
@blacks94 (161)
• Italy
30 May 11
I've seen this question on facebook and I was astonished when I saw how many friends of mine gave what I think is a wrong answer. The answer is one. Think of it as 6: 2a, where a=1+2. In this case, you wouldn't divide 6 by 2 and multiply the result by a. In fact, the correct order is 6/ (2*a) or, if you prefer, 3/a. In both cases the result is one; 6/6 = 1 and 3/3 = 1. Oh, many people try to do this with their calculators. This is nonsense, as most calculators don't know how to perform operations in the right order. They simply display the result of operations they receive according to the input order. However, some calculators will give you the right answer. Using the Mac OS X built-in calculator I get the right answer: 1.
1 person likes this
@himzey (1321)
• India
30 May 11
Thanks Blacks ! You are absolutely correct, and you explanation might be great help for them to get what actually needs to be done. This question is purely of logically understanding and performing the right operation first.
1 person likes this
@sjvg1976 (41131)
• Delhi, India
31 May 11
Hi balcks i have comment for you please read above.
@devideddi (1435)
• United States
30 May 11
My fifth grade daughter who just passed her eogs said that Even though brackets do come first the answer is still 9. (1+2)=3 and 2 into 6=3. And and either way u multiply that you get 9. TransLyric, you posted a great question! I got so tickled reading it. Thanks!
• Malaysia
31 May 11
Hello devideddi, I am glad you have responded to my question. Before that, I had come out with the answer 9 with my calculator. But think again, you can convert my question into fraction form, where 6 is numerator and 2(1+2) is denominator. I am sure that you can get your answer as 1.
@jambi462 (4576)
• United States
31 May 11
The answer is one. I've been in a few college algebra classes now and the order ofoperations you start with whatever is in parentheses (), brackets [],{}. pr absolute value signs. So you would first add the 1 and 2 to get 2(3). This would then give you the equation 6/2(3) which would be 6/6=1. Hope this helps.
@himzey (1321)
• India
31 May 11
Ha ha ha...! Man !... sjvg.. you are really trying hard to win everybody here. Nice, I like it. :) @Jambi ! bulls eye at the first attempt; nice dude. :)
@sjvg1976 (41131)
• Delhi, India
31 May 11
Jambi i have given stepwise calculation for this question & correct answer is 9 not 1. please check.
@Tonton01 (235)
• Philippines
31 May 11
It's 9, take it from the MDAS (in the exact order) formula.
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
4 Jun 11
You have forgotten that parentheses take precedence. The answer is 1.
1 person likes this
@deenaly (162)
• Malaysia
26 Aug 12
B - brackets o D - division M - multiplication A - addition S - subtraction so 6 ÷ 2(1+2)=9
@deenaly (162)
• Malaysia
26 Aug 12
tested with Maple (computer algebra software) 6 ÷ 2(1+2)=1 can only be done if the statement has extra brackets on it i.e 6 ÷ (2(1+2))
@zills66 (1419)
• Saudi Arabia
31 May 11
the answer is 9
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
4 Jun 11
Only if you are counting the numerals and symbols in "6 ÷ 2(1+2)?" Always compute expressions in parentheses FIRST.
@zazen6 (169)
• Philippines
30 May 11
Why the fascination on people's reaction or response to your mathematical question? My answer is 9.
• Malaysia
30 May 11
Thanks for your reply. Let's see how many people give answer 9 whereas others give 1.
@sjvg1976 (41131)
• Delhi, India
30 May 11
I think the answer is 9 please correct if i am wrong!!
• Malaysia
30 May 11
Hey sjvg1976, Thanks for your reply. I got answer 9 from my Casio fx-570ES Scientific calculator. Yet, I still have doubts whether the exact answer is 1 or not. Because when I use fraction mode where I put 6 above and 2(1+2) below, it gives 1.
• Philippines
23 Mar 12
6/2(1+2)... hello friends simplify first what is inside the parenthesis (1+2) is 3. Then it will be 6/2(3). Then perform the operation from left to right... 6/2 is 3... this makes the final problem as 3(3) resulting to 9.
• Nigeria
5 Jan 12
so simple, solution 6/2(1+2)= 6/2(3)= 6*3/2= 18/2= =9 final answer is equal to 9
• Nigeria
5 Jan 12
please i would like the owner to give us the final answer after all discussion.
@Harmonics (251)
• Philippines
8 Aug 11
Let x-represents the answer Then, x= 6/2(1+2) x= 6/2(3) x= 6/6 x= 1 I therefore conclude that the answer to this ultra-difficult calculation is 1. Oh, I need to wipe my sweat.LOL
@giepuz (45)
• Philippines
10 Dec 11
The correct answer for this is 1. Numbers inside the brackets should be simplified first then multiply by 2 then divide.
@jtj_hello (627)
• Philippines
10 Nov 11
Always follow MDAS. Multiple, Divide, Add the Subtract. In this case, i'll be showing you the step by step soultion. 6/[2(1+2)] = ? 6/[2(3)]=? 6/6=? 6/6=1 THE ANSWER FOR THIS PROBLEM IS REALLY 1.
@smilemoon (766)
• United Arab Emirates
13 Apr 12
Mathmetics need a lot of patience.
@magester1 (148)
• Argentina
14 Mar 12
It's actually quite simple, and doesn't go that much into BODMAS or whatever. For it to give 9 it should be written 6/2*(1+2), where the explicit multiplication actually makes a difference. Otherwise, written as 6/2(1+2) it will result in 1.
• Philippines
15 Jul 12
To solve this statement, the PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponent, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction) method must be applied. First to be solved are the expressions within the closure of a parentheses and similar grouping symbols. So (1 + 2) must be solved first, 6 / 2 ( 3) Since have no exponential expression here, we can now proceed to the multiplication part, 2(3). 6 / 6 And division is all left so, 6/6 = 1. :D