If mathematics isn’t your strong suit, this equation that went viral in Japan may just trip you up. A study found that only 60 percent of individuals in their 20s could get the right answer. This is significantly lower than the 90 percent success rate in the 1980s.
hint: It’s a little challenging, right? For most people, it’s been a while since they had to complete a complicated math equation without the aid of a calculator. And even if you did use a calculator, it would most likely give you the wrong answer.
This is because a calculator would consider the 1 / 3 as 1 ÷ 3, instead of the fraction 1/3. This means the calculator will compute the equation as 3 / 1 / 3, and give the final result of 9.
To solve it correctly, you need to ensure the 1 / 3 stays grouped. Therefore, you should insert it into the calculator with brackets: 9 – 3 ÷ (1/3) + 1.
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To solve this viral problem, you need to consider the order of operations. A simple way to remember this is to use the PEMDAS or BEDMAS acronyms:
9 – 3 ÷ (1/3) + 1 = 1
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Not Everyone Can Solve This ‘Simple’ Math Problem, can you?
A divisive math problem has gone viral because netizens simply cannot agree on the correct answer. The equation hails from the 1950s and is baffling many people for a fascinating reason: it appears that over the years, the “rules” for how to solve it have changed.
The math problem is this:
9 – 9 ÷ 9 + 9 – 9 ÷ 9 = ?
Can you work it out? Give it a try, and once you think you have the right answer, scroll down to see what all the controversy is about and what the correct answer is.
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Here is the answer:
9 – (9 ÷ 9) + 9 – (9 ÷ 9) = ?
9 – (1) + 9 – (1) = ?
Then we move on to solve addition and subtraction from left to right as follows:
(9 – 1) + 9 – 1 = ?
(8 + 9) – 1 = ?
17 – 1 = 16
Is this the same answer that you arrived at? If so, congratulations! Not everyone is able to solve it
