Monday 9 May 2011

Mathematics Dilemma

Today Chinese Press brings in a topic on a mathematics problem which is supposed to be easy at elementary level. Two experts were interviewed to provide solution to this problem yet they proposed two different answers. I solved the problem too yet I don't know which one is correct. Perhaps both are correct theoretically; just that the problem lacks in real life interpretation. Should we know the actual real life problem of which the mathematical expression is representing, the rule of multiplication, division and addition within this problem shall be obvious.

Here's the problem:
6/2(2+1) = 1 or 9?

Solutions:

6/2(2+1) = 6/2(3) = 6/6 = 1
               = 6/(4+2) = 6/6 = 1
               = 3/(2+1) = 3/3 = 1


6/2(2+1) = 3(2+1) = 3(3) = 9
               = 6/2(3) = 18/2 = 9 

Which one is correct?

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