OK, it's time to end this, with the open minded winning over the stubborn, in a debate and conclusion already drawn up by the mathematicians.

So, deal with it everyone.

The question was designed to confuse. It was a mathematical question written by a non mathematician, who got the syntax wrong. (I am not saying it was the Op, but the question has been around for a long time.)

This confusion forces ambiguity, which means 2 or more answers are correct.

I am off to play some Pool at Billiardino should anyone want to play with me.

You've lost. No one agrees with you. Even the people on the poll who said 1 are changing their minds. You seem unable to.



No, it's a question which confuses people who don't know. Like "what is the capital of France?" Some people say "India". They're wrong.


The syntax is perfect and standard.

Only you and others who don't understand primary school maths are confused.

Did you read my link to the Maths Forum ? No, you didn't , did you ?

Definitely 9. (I got a grade 1 in maths)

Did you not take higher?

I can't believe nobody can anwer whether 6÷2(1+2) is (6÷2)(1+2) or 6÷(2(1+2)).
This thread should not be that long.

It's been answered. Just some people refuse to listen

Well, that does not help me having trust in science people running the world...

I'm sorry. I didn't hear that...

Me either Faltrad....me either....smh

I think this does sum it up.


There are two answers.

1. If you understand what was implied with the wrong syntax
2. If you answer the problem as stated. (correct answer )

Similarly: If a person not familar with geometry asked:

What is the formular for the perimeter of a square?
If by square they meant rectangle and 'wrote the syntax wrong', the answer they'd be looking for is side-length times two plus side-width times two.
But the proper (correct answer ) answer to the question is: side-length times four.

The guys on the Math forum disagree. The question was designed to confuse, having been written incorrectly. A mathematician would not write it that way. The standard way is not that way, hence the ambiguity in the non standard written form.

The syntax is only wrong if the person who originally asked the question meant to get an answer of 1.

As written there is only one answer: 9

"Sometimes they are five. Sometimes they are three. Sometimes they are all of them at once"
That's what I say.

Mathnut is a mathematician. Why do you continue to embarrass yourself?

A friend of mine hired a machinist a few years ago. A few weeks in this fellow was doing some math on a piece of paper and boss hands him a calculator...
fellow said "I don't use those, they are wrong"
boss says,"whaaaa?"
fellow says,"example. 2+2. Sometimes it's 4, sometimes it's something else."
Boss fires genius.

Stay away from heavy machinery UtH, as long as you don't hurt yourself it's all good.

I haven't done any maths for the past 54 years (EXCEL does my Housekeeping and keeps tally of my Groans) so my answer was probably wrong but anyway this all reminds me of the kid in the first class at school who was notoriously careless in her adding up.

Teacher: 'Now, to be sure you get it right this time, I want you to add up these figures five times.'
Child: 'Yes Miss'
Five minutes later.
Teacher: 'Have you added them up 5 times like I said?'
Child: 'Yes Miss'.
Teacher: 'Good. Then now you can give me your answer. '
Child: 'Alright, Miss. Which answer do you want, the first, the second, the...

__________________
Longbyt

The syntax is wrong. It would not be written like that by a Mathematician. See my previous post earlier on.

THANK YOU for an excellent explanation!

Tom

I go by what I read on the Maths forums. And you ?