Computer Science Canada

Math Question on Facebook
Author:  whoareyou [ Wed Apr 27, 2011 9:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Math Question on Facebook
There's this question on Facebook, and there is a huge debate between me and my friends between which is the right answer or not.

code:

6?2(1+2)=?


The options are 1 and 9. I believe that the answer is 1, but the majority of people who have answered the question say it's 9.

code:

6?2(1+2)=?
= 6?2(3) //Brackets first
= 6/2(3) //Rewriting the equation in a simpler form
= 6/6 //2(3) is 6, so it becomes 6/6
= 1 //the answer is 1 :)
Author:  RandomLetters [ Wed Apr 27, 2011 9:23 pm ]
Post subject:  RE:Math Question on Facebook
Is the ? operator meant to be a division sign?
Author:  apython1992 [ Wed Apr 27, 2011 9:29 pm ]
Post subject:  RE:Math Question on Facebook
Multiplication and division goes from left to right. 9 is the correct answer.
Author:  A.J [ Wed Apr 27, 2011 10:27 pm ]
Post subject:  RE:Math Question on Facebook
Well, based on what wolframalpha says:
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=6%2F2%281%2B2%29

So yeah, its 9.
Author:  Tony [ Wed Apr 27, 2011 10:35 pm ]
Post subject:  RE:Math Question on Facebook
Which is pretty obvious when you actually write out the equation. To get one, you need this interpretation -- http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=6%2F%282%281%2B2%29%29 which, of course, is different.
Author:  andrew. [ Thu Apr 28, 2011 10:47 am ]
Post subject:  RE:Math Question on Facebook
Most calculators will interpret 6/2(1+2) as (6/2)*(1+2). In this case, the answer is 9. If there were brackets around the "2(1+2)", then the answer would be 1.
Author:  Brightguy [ Thu Apr 28, 2011 2:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Math Question on Facebook
Strictly speaking, by the order of operations the answer should be 9. But in actuality, the scandalous truth is that mathematicans don't always follow the order of operations.

For example, I've seen a/(bc) written as a/bc. The reasoning is, if you had really meant (a/b)c you would have written ac/b instead. In a draft I once used the a/bc notation but couldn't bring myself to go through with it.

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