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27
Yes, she votes, as do millions just like her (media.scored.co)
posted 2 years ago by user20461 2 years ago by user20461 +27 / -0
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▲ 7 ▼
– Kienan 7 points 2 years ago +7 / -0

To the equation itself, and at the risk of starting controversy, I think it's somewhat ambiguous. I've seen even mathematicians debate it, and I've seen a good way of describing it is that this is a language problem, not a math problem. It's intentionally written in a way that's somewhat open to interpretation. It's pretty much disingenuous from the start, since it's not written to be legible. It's a troll, and not good math. There are arguments to be made for either order, and they produce different outcomes.

This could reasonably be interpreted as 6/(2*(1+2)), and that is in fact how a ton of people were taught. It could also be interpreted as the "correct" version of 6/2*(1+2). Which version you'd use also changes if you substitute variables in place of an integer. It's just unclear, and that's why it confuses people. There are dumb people who get everything wrong, like this person (if she's not trolling), but I don't think everyone who gets this "wrong" is stupid. The whole thing is designed to output two different answers based on slight differences in methodology.

I find myself agreeing with the argument that the issue is with the statement itself, not which particular answer you output.


EDIT: For those interested, below are my favorite videos on the issue.

Also, "6/2(2+1)=1" master race!

The Problem with PEMDAS: Why Calculators Disagree
How School Made You Worse at Math
The Order of Operations is Wrong

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▲ 3 ▼
– user20461 [S] 3 points 2 years ago +3 / -0

This could reasonably be interpreted as 6/(2(1+2))

How? There's no extra parenthesis in the original equation, which would change the final answer.

BTW here's the original image since the guy who tweeted it deleted it: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/URcUvFIUIhQ/maxresdefault.jpg

You could argue that they should've included the multiplication symbol, but that's still perfectly valid math syntax.

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▲ 5 ▼
– Kienan 5 points 2 years ago +5 / -0

I could just be wrong. In fact I think I am. Although, again, I've seen mathematicians argue for that answer as well. So, although I think I'm wrong, and have now confused myself, I do still think the best answer is just that this is an intentionally confusing statement made to troll people.

I think where some of the confusion for people is coming from is distribution, too. Because if it was, for example, 6/2(x+2), a lot of people would end up with 6/2x+4, right? 6/2x+4 is actually a completely different answer to either the 1 or 9 method. I believe that's actually in line with the "7" method the person in the picture bungled. But I think here you'd actually want to first solve outside the parentheses, so you'd actually end up with 3(x+2) = 3x+6, which would be the correct "9" answer.

Regardless, it is a very messy statement. But I think I have now talked myself back around to there being one correct answer, and that answer being 9...mostly. But it's still all fucked.

TL;DR: Who the heck knows, this shit is intentionally confusing.

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▲ 3 ▼
– user20461 [S] 3 points 2 years ago +3 / -0

No one's gonna cast judgement for getting it wrong so long as you realized where you screwed up because mistakes happen and the lack of multiplication symbol can throw people off.

I just hope we can all agree that anyone who arrived at 6 / 6 = 0 should not be allowed to vote lol.

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▲ 3 ▼
– Kienan 3 points 2 years ago +3 / -0

I just hope we can all agree that anyone who arrived at 6 / 6 = 0 should not be allowed to vote lol.

Yup, that is certainly incorrect.

I'm now doubting myself on the main question, again, though.

To my example of 6/2(x+2), there's also still an argument to be made for reading it as 6/(2(x+2)), which is back to the "1" answer. In written form like that, "/" often denotes that it's treated as the preceding divided by the solution to the multiplication/division that comes after.

This video someone else linked goes into that pretty well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLCDca6dYpA

I think I have to switch my answer back to "this question intentionally sucks, and that in itself is the answer." The "actual" mathematical answer doesn't really matter, since even math experts won't agree, despite the seeming simplicity. I was almost convinced of "9," but I'm back to "1" or "9" having strong arguments.

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