Do you find math challenging?
Trust me, you are not alone. Many people suffer from Mathemaphobia, or the fear of math. People under this condition suffer from stress and anxiety when facing a math-related challenge.
Worst-case scenario, they might even suffer a panic attack if required to solve a complicated equation – like the one we brought you today.
This math problem has been circulating around the web lately. Although the problem may look relatively simple, it’s actually much harder than you think.
This equation looks like it was taken from a regular math book for kids in high school. But lately, the equation has been trending online, baffling everyone who tries to solve it.
The answer is not 0, 1, 3, or 6
Here comes the problem.
6 ÷ 2 (1 + 2) =?
If you reach the solution 0, 1, 3, or 6, you are not alone.
All over the internet, people have been discussing how they arrive at their particular answers.
But the fact is that the correct answer is 9.
How? You wonder. Then check the explanation after the picture below.
The order of math operations
The first thing you need to keep in mind with this type of problem is the order of operations.
First, you have to solve the numbers inside the parentheses, 1 + 2, which of course, becomes 3.
After that, the equation will look like this: 6 ÷ 2 (3) =
Step two is to convert 2 (3) to 2 x 3. According to the rules of math, you must remove the parentheses, and a space between two numbers usually means multiplication.
The problem, now, looks like this: 6 ÷ 2 x 3 =
Divide and multiply
Step three is to divide and multiply, we usually solve from left to right. So 6 ÷ 2 first, which equals 3.
Then the final phase looks like this: 3 x 3. We solve the multiplication and get our definitive answer: 9.
More solutions to the equation?
But even though the correct solution is 9, there are ways to end with 1 as the answer.
A hundred years ago, math was solved in a different order.
Back then, you wouldn’t divide 6 by 2 and multiply it by 3, as we did.
Instead, you would multiply 2 by 3 first, which would have ended in 6 ÷ 6 as the last calculation and then giving you the answer: 1.
The brain quickly forgets
How come so many people have problems with this type of math? Everyone learns it in school. Right?
The answer is that the brain simply forgets in the order of operations because we rarely need to use it in our daily lives.
It’s merely about practice, memory is a muscle, and to keep it in shape, it needs regular exercise.
Now press that share button below and see if your friends can solve this tricky equation!
