Math Is Fun Forum

ramiroelliot

Novice

Registered: 2025-02-16

Posts: 1

silly question!

if 6+6=12, then 3x2+3x2=6x2, but why can't I make it 3x2=6x2/3x2? this would make 3x2=2. It literally makes no sense, could someone explain it to me?

Jai Ganesh

Administrator

Registered: 2005-06-28

Posts: 50,584

Re: silly question!

See Order of Operations - I and Order of Operations - II.

Also, see Order of Operations - More Information..

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It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

paulb203

Member

Registered: 2023-02-24

Posts: 406

Re: silly question!

if 6+6=12, then 3x2+3x2=6x2, but why can't I make it 3x2=6x2/3x2? this would make 3x2=2. It literally makes no sense, could someone explain it to me?

To rearrange 3x2+3x2=6x2 to make 3x2 the subject, as you tried to do in your final step, you should have done as follows;

3x2+3x2=6x2

Take 3x2 away from both sides;

3x2=6x2-3x2 (which is 6=12-6)

Instead you took 3x2 away from the left hand side of the equation, and DIVIDED the other side by 3x2

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"The secret of getting ahead is getting started."
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paulb203

Member

Registered: 2023-02-24

Posts: 406

Re: silly question!

P.S. I don't think it's a silly question

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"The secret of getting ahead is getting started."
Mark Twain

John E. Franklin(2)

Member

Registered: 2019-05-17

Posts: 26

Re: silly question!

You added them first.
Then you divided them.
You added them, so you should have subtracted them.