A basic math problem has been trending on social media after confused viewers began arguing about the answer.
While most of us are pretty confident in our math skills, it is easy to forget about the basics as time passes by and we stop applying them on a daily basis.
In this math problem, we are about to put your use of the order of operations to the test by asking you to solve a seemingly easy math problem.
Before we reveal the solution, it’s time for you to put your brain to work and try to find out what the correct answer is.
If you’re already convinced that you’ve got the right answer, feel free to check out if you’re right! Here’s the solution.
As it happens, there is only ONE correct answer and that is NINE (9). All other answers are incorrect.
Here’s the breakdown of the math problem:
9 ÷ 3 × (2 + 1) =
9 ÷ 3 × (3) =
3 × 3 = 9
Though many people argue that the answer is 1 according to PEMDAS and BOMDAS, this is incorrect due to the fact that division and multiplication have the same priority. Similarly, addition and subtraction have the same priority as well.
Since multiplication and division have the same priority (according to all operations orders), you have to start working on the equation at the left side before making your way to the right.
Essentially, the correct order of operations is always the same, whereas BOMDAS, BEDMAS, PEDMAS, and PEMDAS all do the same thing – the only difference is in wording.
Though multiplication is listed before division in PEMDAS, for example, this doesn’t mean that multiplications should be done before divisions throughout the equation. Instead, since the two have the same priority, one has to start at the left side and move to the right to get the right answer.
In case you’re still having trouble believing us, feel free to put the result to the test by using a calculator.
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