A recent math problem shared on social media has left many users scratching their heads, prompting a collective recall of elementary arithmetic rules. The equation, posted by the X account BreaktheSilos, reads: 8 + 2 x 5 ÷ 8. Responses varied widely, with guesses ranging from 10 to 8.8, 9.25, and even 6.25.
The PEMDAS Rule
To solve the equation correctly, one must apply the order of operations, commonly remembered by the acronym PEMDAS: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, and Subtraction. Since there are no parentheses or exponents, the first operation is multiplication.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Step 1: Solve 2 x 5, which equals 10. The equation becomes 8 + 10 ÷ 8.
- Step 2: Perform division: 10 ÷ 8 = 1.25. Now the equation is 8 + 1.25.
- Step 3: Add: 8 + 1.25 = 9.25.
The correct answer is therefore 9.25. Those who arrived at 6.25 likely ignored PEMDAS and solved left to right, first adding 8 and 2 to get 10, then multiplying by 5 to get 50, and finally dividing by 8.
If you solved it correctly in under 30 seconds, congratulations! If not, remember that practice makes perfect, and there are plenty more puzzles to test your skills.
