6/2(2+1) Is the answer 9?

Question

Using PEMDAS, this is how I arrived at 9:

6/2(2+1)

6/2(3)

3(3)

9 however,

some of my friends said the answer should be 1

Answer 1

You are using PEMDAS correctly, however, when you have a fraction things are approached differently. You need to simplify the numerator and denominator separately first. When you look at 6/2(3), you have to simplify the denominator by multiplying 2x3 to get 6. Then you have 6/6 and the answer will be 1.

If the 3 in 6/2(3) is not actually under the quotient bar and is separate from the fraction, however, then the answer would in fact be 9. You would simplify the fraction of 6/2 and then multiply it by 3.

It is hard to determine which of these is the case with your question because of the limitations of the computer keyboard.

Answer 2

Following correct order of operations, the answer should be 9 (as you said).

Your friends are probably working the problem as follows

6/2(2+1)

6/2(3)

6/6            This is the step that is in error, because multiplying and dividing should be done from left to

                 right

1