November 14, 2024

Can you solve this maths equation that has the internet baffled?

BODMAS #BODMAS

The ‘basic’ maths equation below has left boffins divided over the correct process for solving it, with two methods resulting in two completely different answers.

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Is the answer ONE or NINE – or perhaps something else?

Those South Africans who can still remember back to their school days, will not-so-fondly recall being taught ‘BODMAS’ when attempting to solve such problems.

BODMAS is an acronym to help pupils remember the correct order in which to solve maths problems.

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A quick reminder, it stands for for B-Brackets, O-Orders (powers/indices or roots), D-Division, M-Multiplication, A-Addition, S-Subtraction.

Using the above, the answer would appear to be ONE.

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However!

Following today’s standards, the process for solving the equation is to address what is in the brackets first.

So, 1+2 becomes 3, and the equation becomes 6 ÷ 2 (3).

The brackets around the 3 indicates it is to be multiplied by what comes before it, so the equation translates to 6 ÷ 2 x 3.

As multiplication and division are of the same precedence, the equation is then solved left to right: 6 ÷ 2 becomes 3, making the equation 3 x 3, resulting in a solution of NINE.

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What answer do YOU get? Let us know by clicking on the ‘comment’ tab below this article.

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