Thread: 6/2(1+2) =

Originally Posted by Eevo

question..


a/bc


Is it
a
---
cb


or is it
ac
--
b

?

if BODMAS rules, then I would take it as A divided by B then mulitplied by C, only because divide comes before multiply.

Again, is it a incorrect written equation, just to cause ambiguity?

If the author had truly intended the (1+2) to be multiplied, the equation would have been written 6(1+2)/2.

QED

Originally Posted by uninformed

if BODMAS rules, then I would take it as A divided by B then mulitplied by C, only because divide comes before multiply.

i dont agree. a/bc always means

a
--
bc

Originally Posted by uninformed

Again, is it a incorrect written equation, just to cause ambiguity?

probably.
its a good troll, haha

hey i dont have a clue, thats why i just enrolled at TAFE to do ATP....first subject is basic Maths, so I can do pure Maths and then Physics.

After reading all this thread I'm definitely pleased that I was educated over 50 years ago when life was simple and not full of bull**** that it is now.What ever happened to the three R's.It looks like everyone now-a-days is educated to the standard of what was called in my day "Assistant Pilot on The Moon Rocket"
John.

Originally Posted by uninformed

its a simple single line equation that was posted on facebook, not hand written and not with a top or bottom line.

the question is written badly and ambiguous.

Originally Posted by uninformed

Since this is the case I would take the "/" as divison just for the 6 and 2. They could have written it like Eevo has which would change things depending on which one.

but the 2 belongs to the (1+2)

Originally Posted by uninformed

Eevo, what is your definition of expanding the brackets?

hard to explain on a forum, and expanding doesnt need to be done, but often easier to solve equations.

y = 2(1+3)
y = (2 + 6)
y = 8

as i said, you dont need to expand. however the 2 must be multiplied agasint the inside of the brackets first.
y = 2(1+3)
y = 2(4)
y = 8

Originally Posted by uninformed

is it a case of the equation has been written incorrectly? Surely there are rules in Maths to avoid all the ambiguity?

yes, depending on what the author wanted.
If the author had truly intended the (1+2) to be multiplied, the equation would have been written 6(1+2)/2.

hence i think the answer is 1.

Originally Posted by Disco44

[FONT="Arial"]What ever happened to the three R's

reduce, reuse, recycle?

Eevo, are you using BOMDAS? if so what is your take on someone saying that BODMAS now superceeds this? Does it change anything?