Easy looking math equation proves tricky for people - do you know the rule to solve the sum in 30 seconds?
The equation in questions is: 15 - 15 × 4 ÷ 2 = ?
At first glance, it looks like a basic grade school math problem.
But thousands of users on X (formerly Twitter) were left stumped.
Bholanath Dutta, who posts under the handle @BholanathDutta, shared the math problem with his followers this week.
He shared the equation alongside the caption: 'Can you solve this?'
Users commented with mixed responses.
Some people guessed 15, others guessed -15.
Some said 2, while others even threw out wild numbers like 45.
See if you can solve this equation in 30 seconds or less.
But first, here's a hint: Ever heard of PEMDAS?
The age-old acronym guides you through the proper order for solving a complicated calculation like this one.
It stands for Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, and then Subtraction.
Using that method, the solution is easy. There are no parentheses or exponents, so multiplication is first.
The correct answer was -15.
15 - 15 × 4 ÷ 2 = -15
So why did it trip people up? It all comes down to the order of operations or PEMDAS, the rule many haven't thought about since high school.
Here's the breakdown:
First, do the multiplication and division from left to right:
15 × 4 = 60
60 ÷ 2 = 30
Then subtract:
15 - 30 = -15
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