What is the answer to 6 ÷ 2(1+2)

The expression 6 ÷ 2(1+2) evaluates to 9 using proper order of operations. Following PEMDAS/BODMAS (Parentheses/Brackets first, then Exponents/Orders, then Multiplication and Division left-to-right, then Addition and Subtraction left-to-right), you first solve the parentheses: (1+2) = 3. The expression becomes 6 ÷ 2 × 3. Crucially, multiplication and division have equal priority and are evaluated strictly left-to-right, so you perform 6 ÷ 2 = 3 first, then 3 × 3 = 9.

This problem has caused substantial online debate because some people incorrectly interpret 2(3) as a single term that must be resolved before division, giving 6 ÷ 6 = 1. However, this interpretation violates standard mathematical conventions. In standard notation, implicit multiplication (where the multiplication symbol is omitted, like 2(3)) has the same precedence as explicit multiplication (2×3), not higher precedence. The expression should be read as (6 ÷ 2) × 3, not 6 ÷ (2 × 3). To avoid ambiguity entirely, mathematicians and scientists typically use fraction notation or explicit parentheses: writing 6/(2(1+2)) makes clear you mean 1, while writing (6/2)(1+2) makes clear you mean 9. Modern calculators correctly evaluate this as 9 when following standard order of operations. The confusion highlights why clear mathematical notation matters—ambiguous expressions should be rewritten for clarity using fraction bars or additional parentheses. When encountering controversial math problems on social media, remember that proper order of operations rules are unambiguous, but poor notation can create apparent ambiguity. Always follow left-to-right evaluation for operations of equal precedence (multiplication/division, addition/subtraction), and use explicit parentheses or fraction notation when writing expressions to prevent misinterpretation.