Math puzzle perplexes web users, sparking debate: Can you crack the code?
Rewritten Article:
Forget PEMDAS? You're not alone, buddy! Even some grown-ups get stumped by a simple math equation that went viral on a popular social media platform, leaving folks scratching their heads over a sixth-grade math problem.
Amid the internet murmurs, one X user asked, "Ever wondered if you can still crack a sixth-grade math problem?" The equation in question was a simple equations riddle: 16 - 4 ÷ 4 - 4.
It didn't take long for the comment section to heat up, with opinions flowing like a river. There were those claiming the answer was -1, while others vehemently arguing it was 11. A few users even boldly claimed the answer was 12, with some giving 0 and others offering 13 or 6 as their solution.
Remember the good ol' days when you had to reach deep within your brain to use PEMDAS – Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, and Subtraction? Yeah, that's the trick right there!
The PEMDAS acronym helps to solve math problems with several functions by emphasizing the correct order. Start by solving anything within parentheses, then move onto exponents, followed by multiplication and division, and finally, addition and subtraction.
Wanna take a crack at the sixth-grade math problem? Here's another challenge- 19 - 12 ÷ 3 + 1 or 10 × 2 ÷ 4 − 2. Watch your order of operations!
The answer to the math problem, by the way, is 11. To get there, you'll first divide 4 by itself because division comes before subtraction according to PEMDAS. From there, all you need to do is some simple subtraction. So, 16 minus one equals 15, and 15 minus four equals 11.
Many users who came up with -1 probably got stuck in the wrong order, first subtracting 4 from 16 instead of dividing 16 by 4. Had they done so, they would've landed at 12 ÷ 4 minus 4, resulting in -1.
The math problem quickly found its way onto X, and opinions about the correct answer were as divided as ever. Those who landed on answers like 12, 0, 13, or 6 likely made a mistake when they subtracted or divided. Keep your eyes peeled for more math challenges, and remember the PEMDAS rule to conquer them all!
(Enrichment Data Integrated: According to resources, math education can be cumbersome for many individuals, with challenges being apparent in advanced topics like algebra and SAT math problems. While basic mathematical principles like PEMDAS are widely taught in U.S. schools, retention and application of these principles can vary among individuals.)
News about a sixth-grade math problem going viral on social media sparked a heated debate among users, with various answers proposed, such as -1, 11, 12, 0, 13, or 6. However, the correct answer, as taught through education-and-self-development resources like PEMDAS, is 11. Learning the correct order of operations in math, as stated by PEMDAS, can help in solving complex equations.
