When a video or social media post goes viral, it’s usually about a new movie, new fashion line, a funny or controversial video, or a scandal.

It is rare for a “simple” math problem to go viral but it did.

A Twitter user by the name of The LUVITY asked this simple algebra question.

How can you guys get anything other than 7… pic.twitter.com/DyP120dNJa

— The LUVITY (@nublew) April 18, 2021

What started out as a simple question turned into a battle of smarts on the internet.

This tweet alone had more than 12,000 retweets and when MindYourDecisions answered it on their YouTube channel, it reached more than 20 million views.

So what is the answer?

Some people answered nine. And there are some people who answered one. What’s your answer?

The good thing about subjects like Mathematics is that they always operate on formulas and systems. When a problem is confusing, we just need to look at these formulas to help solve the problem.

How do you solve the math problem: 6 ÷ 2(1+2)?

In this case, the PEMDAS formula was used by MindYourDecisions.

PEMDAS refers to:

• Parenthesis
• Exponents
• Multiplication – Division
• Addition – Subtraction.

And if the equation has the same precedence, go left to right. Another acronym to make it more memorable is to refer to PEMDAS as “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally.”

So the first part to tackle would be the equation inside the parenthesis, (1+2). It’s a simple addition, the answer is 3.

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Now it becomes 6 ÷ 2(3). What’s next?

This is now the part where it becomes tricky and where most people are conflicted.

Should you multiply 2(3) first? Should you divide 6÷2 first? Which one will go first?

In the PEMDAS formula, Multiplication and Division are on the same line.

Now, most people would say that because Multiplication comes first then that should be the computation done first. So if you go by that reasoning, it’ll become 2 x 3 = 6 then it becomes 6 ÷ 6 = 1. This is how some people would answer it.

But when you look at the other condition of PEMDAS, it says if the equation has the same precedence, you answer it from left to right. Since the division part goes first, it should be done first.

The solution then goes 6 ÷ 2 = 3 then 3(3) or 3 x 3 = 9.

So which one is right?

The correct answer is 9.

Unfortunately, most students believe the wrong thing about PEMDAS. They only follow the order of operations, which is correct, but they also forget one crucial part of the formula, left to right. When it comes to the MDAS part, we always believe that Multiplication and Addition must be done first.

This is incorrect.

What should be done first is either Multiplication/Division then Addition/Subtraction. And when you have both present in the equation, you need to start with the leftmost part. In this case, Division comes so this is what needs to be solved first.

The great thing about subjects with formulas or systems is that the answers are always based on fact. You will always get one correct answer.

Did you get it right?

Watch the video below to see how this mathematician solved this simple algebra question.

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Source: YouTube – Mind Your Decisions, Socratic, Relay Hero, Newsweek, Future Set Camp