Latest news with #PEMDAS
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Grade school sum looks easy but leaves people confused - can you solve it?
A grade school arithmetic problem has left people scratching their heads. The problem posted by @BholanathDutta on X read: 4+4x4+4 Before you jump into the deep end too quickly and try to find the solution, first remind yourself of simple math principles so you don't make a basic mistake. This sum is a simple lesson in mathematicians' favorite acronym: PEMDAS. PEMDAS is frequently taught as a way for mathletes to remember the correct order in which to solve compound math equations. It stands for Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, and Subtraction. There are no parentheses or exponents in this problem so multiplication comes first. It may feel unnatural to solve from the center, but give it a go and see if you can find the sum in 30 seconds or less. 4 x 4 = 16 With one step down, the problem reads: 4+16+4 From there, it's just simple addition: 4+16= 20 Now we have: 20+4 = 24 Were you able to solve it? There are a couple of easy errors that other wannabe mathematicians fell victim to while trying to get to the bottom of things. The first is solving the equation left to right, instead of implementing PEMDAS. 4+4=8 8 x 4 = 32 32 + 4 = 36 Another easy mistake to make is putting the addition first. By adding 4+4 on both sides of the equation first the simplified problem would become: 8 x 8 = 64 Unfortunately, this mixes up the reliable acronym PEMDAS and leaves the solution unsolved. How did you do? Were you able to rely on math principles learned decades ago or did you too fall victim to one of these easy errors?
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Grade school sum looks easy but leaves people confused - can you solve it in 30 seconds?
A grade school math problem has once again stumped the internet. Social media user @BholanathDutta posted a sum on X, formerly Twitter, and the basic rules of elementary arithmetic have failed the masses. The problem read: 4+4x4+4 Before you jump into the deep end too quickly and try to find the solution in your head, it's best to remind yourself of simple math principles so you don't make a basic mistake. This sum is a simple lesson in mathematicians' favorite acronym: PEMDAS. PEMDAS is frequently taught as a way for up and coming mathletes to remember the correct order in which to solve compound math equations. It stands for Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, and then Subtraction. There are no parentheses or exponents so in this solution multiplication comes first. It may feel unnatural to solve from the center, but give it a go and see if you can find the sum in 30 seconds or less. 4 x 4 = 16 With one step down, the problem reads: 4+16+4 From there, it's just simple addition. 4+16= 20 Now we have: 20+4 = 24 Were you able to solve it? There are a couple of easy errors that other wannabe mathematicians fell victim to while trying to get to the bottom of things. The first is solving the equation left to right, instead of implementing PEMDAS. 4+4=8 8 x 4 = 32 32 + 4 = 36 Another easy mistake to make was putting the addition first. By adding 4+4 on both sides of the equation first the simplified problem would become: 8 x 8 = 64 Unfortunately, this completely mixes up the reliable acronym PEMDAS and leaves the solution unsolved. How did you do? Were you able to rely on math principles learned decades ago or did you too fall victim to one of these easy errors?
Daily Mail
29-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Easy looking math equation proves tricky for people - do you know the rule to solve the sum in 30 seconds?
A seemingly simple math problem has gone viral this week, leaving people totally stumped on social media. 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
Daily Mail
22-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Grade-school math sum leaves people scratching their heads... can you solve the simple problem in 30 seconds?
What seemed like a regular grade school math problem had people totally stumped on social media. The equation 9 x 3 - 9 shared by @BholanathDutta on X left social media users completely mystified. So, are you smarter than a fourth grader? Or better yet, the average adult on X? 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. 9 x 3 = 27 Then, the equation reads: 27 - 9 ÷ 3 But before doing any subtraction, PEMDAS implies that division is next. 9 ÷ 3 = 3 Now, it's painless. 27 - 3 = 24 Did you get it right? Commenters under the original X post made the common error of solving the math sum left to right, instead of utilizing the elementary principle. First they multiplied. 9 x 3 = 27 Then, subtracted. 27 - 9 = 18 And then divided. 18 ÷ 3 = 6 A few people even, inexplicably, got 9 as their answer. It had to take some mental gymnastics to find that solution. Sure, a calculator could be an easy shortcut. But, nothing beats the satisfaction of solving a problem yourself.
Daily Mail
15-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Simple looking math problem leaves people stumped - are you smarter than a 5th grader?
A simple arithmetic problem has left internet users scratching their heads - with only a few landing on the correct solution to this elementary school-level equation. While most people learned the concept needed to simplify these kinds of equations by the time they turned 10, many attempters drew a blank this time around. The key to getting to the bottom of this seemingly straightforward problem is to call upon every mathematicians' favorite acronym - PEMDAS. Each letter represents a math symbol in the order they are meant to be done when they come up in a problem. Anything inside parentheses (P) should be worked out first. Secondly, exponents (E) should be addressed. Next should be multiplication and division (MD), but multiplication does not necessarily have to come before division. The correct method is to address them from left to right as the are written in the equation. Lastly, addition and subtraction (AS). When only those two operations remain, the sum can be solved from left to right because the order makes no difference. Here's the equation, give it a go before reading on: Under the X post, shared by user BreakTheSilos, that first sparked the mathematical confusion, some users confidently claimed the answer was 0 or 1. But both solutions are incredibly incorrect. Applying PEMDAS, the first step to solving this problem is to tackle what's inside the parentheses: 3 + 5. After performing basic addition, you get 5, making the new equation 45 ÷ 9 (5). At this stage, some people fell into a trap. Instead of following PEMDAS, they decided to multiply 9 and 5, leaving them with the flawed expression 45 ÷ 45. Instead of this faulty method, you must remember that multiplication and division is to address them from left to right. Keeping that in mind, the correct second step is to solve 45 ÷ 9, which equals 5. Now, left with 5(5), the only thing to do is to multiply 5 x 5, finally getting you the correct answer of 25.
