6÷2(1+2) = ? Correct Answer Explained By Mathematician
What is 6÷2(1 2) = ? This problem went viral and generated millions of comments on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and social media sites. I explain how to get the correct answer by using the modern interpretation of the order of operations. I also explain how you would get a different answer under historical usage of the division symbol. (Note: some people write 6/2(1 2) = but this has the same answer.)
I studied Mathematics and Economics at Stanford. Press coverage of my work:
*I get many, many emails about this problem and am unable to reply to them.
Blog (text explanation):
Slate explains the history of the division symbol
Here is a 1917 article from “The American Mathematical Monthly“ that explains the usage of the division symbol as an exception to the order of operations
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WolframAlpha evaluation
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“40 Paradoxes in Logic, Probability, and Game Theory“ rated 4.4/5 stars on 13 reviews
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“Math Puzzles Volume 2“ rated 4.5/5 stars on 6 reviews
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2017 Shorty Awards Nominee. Mind Your Decisions was nominated in the STEM category (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) along with eventual winner Bill Nye; finalists Adam Savage, Dr. Sandra Lee, Simone Giertz, Tim Peake, Unbox Therapy; and other nominees Elon Musk, Gizmoslip, Hope Jahren, Life Noggin, and Nerdwriter.
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