Ambiguity Math Example 1

Solution

1. 1
   By standard order of operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS): first evaluate the parentheses: $1+2=3$.
2. 2
   Then left-to-right: $6 \div 2 = 3$, then $3 \times 3 = 9$.
3. 3
   Source of ambiguity: some readers interpret $2(1+2)$ as a single grouped term, giving $6 \div 6 = 1$. The expression is ambiguous because implicit multiplication priority is not universally agreed upon.
4. 4
   Resolution: write $\frac{6}{2}(1+2)$ or $\frac{6}{2(1+2)}$ to remove ambiguity.