If you’re like most people, you probably don’t enjoy math. Apparently, the number of people who actually like math is actually pretty small. However, there are folks out there who really enjoy a good challenge and math will definitely deliver challenges. I’m not talking about advanced algebra, but just basic math puzzles that are fun to solve.
However, some problems are pretty easy, right? Maybe not. There are a ton of tricky math problems out there on the internet and they’re testing the math skills of folks who thought they at least knew the basics. It’s become a form of "fun” torture for some of us to try to solve these tricky problems.
The problem below is one such math problem. Most of us know basic division, and we also know that the numeral before the parenthesis is mean to be multiplied by the number that results from solving the problem in the parenthesis. Right? However, the problem is that a lot of people have forgotten the golden rule of solving math problems and that’s the famous PEMDAS, or "please excuse my dear Aunt Sally,” if having an acronym helps you. But, wait a minute. Even if you remember PEMDAS, you may get this one wrong. Give it a go. We’re going to give you some hints down below before we share the solution.
PEMDAS helps you solve math problems in this order: Parenthesis, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction. If you get even one out of order, you’re doomed. That’s the whole secret to solving math problems, and it’s useful. So for this problem, what is the solution? Using PEMDAS, you might have come up with the answer of either 3 or 12. If so, you got it wrong. Hey, don’t feel bad. I did, too. Scroll down if you need more help.
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Using PEMDAS, you’ll solve the problem in parenthesis.
8 ÷ 4 = 2
Then you have to shift over to the left equation.
23 ÷ 4 = 6
Then you can multiply 6 x 2 to get the correct answer: 6. How did you do?
