Question

Order of operations (2)

Answer 1

Disclaimer:
I know the math rules - order of operations and so on (in theory), which I have learned during my N number of different math courses at college. Which I have completed by the way, got my degree and everything.

Anyway, on to my question.

A discussion regarding a math equation popped up, that made me question myself.

A quick look at this and I would immediately assume that the math equation (see image below) would unfold like this:
6 / 2(1+2)
6 / 2(3)
6 / 6
= 1

However, this is because of the way we were thought in college. Basically every math equation was formed as the drawing here, which indicated that what is above and below the division is calculated before the division itself.



So in a way, I am putting "2(1+2)" in a mental "group", which I calculate before the division.
However, if I were to read the math equation literally, the order of operations would indicate that this would be wrong, and that the actual math equation would unfold more like this:

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


How would you interpret this equation? Would you assume the numbers on the right of the division is a group?

I believe the "formal" correct answer is 9, but on first look I was thinking 1, until someone pointed that out to me.