A viral math problem that has been circulating online has sparked debate, with many people arriving at different answers. The equation, originally shared on Wikr and later picked up by The Daily Mail, has two possible correct solutions: 40 or 96, depending on the method used.
The first method involves adding the equation and then combining the sum with that of the previous equation. The second method multiplies the second number by the number being added. Both approaches yield different results, leading to confusion among solvers.
Another viral math problem, which went viral on social media, involves the order of operations. Using the modern interpretation (PEMDAS or BODMAS), the correct answer is 9. However, the historical order of operations from before 1917 would give an answer of 1, and this older method is still taught in some schools.
A separate controversy erupted over a teacher's marking of a student's work. The student correctly calculated 5 x 3 as 5 + 5 + 5 = 15, but the teacher insisted on 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 15. Similarly, for 4 x 6, the student drew an array with six rows and four columns, but the teacher wanted four rows and six columns. Critics argued that this punished the student for recognising the commutative property of multiplication.
Other viral problems include a logic puzzle about Cheryl's birthday, which was actually from a math olympiad, and a train passenger problem that required simple arithmetic. One puzzle involved turning a picture upside down to reveal numbers in order from 86 to 91. Another problem about a missing dollar was resolved by focusing on the total rather than the debt.
