Answer (1 of 21): This question is specifically designed to show an error that often arises in many calculators, programs and improper use of ordering systems such as PEMDAS and BODMAS.

The correct answer is 1, but the question is specifically designed to cause students (usually programmer stude...

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.)

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*I get many, many emails about this problem and am unable to reply to them.

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Slate explains the history of the division symbol
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2013/03/facebook_math_problem_why_pemdas_doesn_t_always_give_a_clear_answer.html

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
http://www.jstor.org/stable/2972726?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

Google evaluation
https://www.google.com/#q=6%C3%B72(1%2B2)

WolframAlpha evaluation
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=6%C3%B72(1%2B2)

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