A seemingly straightforward maths equation has sent the internet into a frenzy, proving that many of us need to brush up on our secondary school arithmetic. The deceptively simple problem has racked up millions of views and thousands of furious comments as people adamantly defend their conflicting answers.
The Equation That Caused Chaos
The expression in question is: 7+7÷7+7×7-7. Posted on various social media platforms, it has become a litmus test for basic maths skills, with answers wildly varying between 50, 56, and 2. This division highlights a widespread confusion about the fundamental rules of mathematics.
Why Are People Getting It Wrong?
The core of the issue lies in the order of operations, often remembered by the acronym BODMAS (Brackets, Orders, Division and Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction) in the UK. The rules state that division and multiplication must be carried out before addition and subtraction, moving from left to right.
Many are incorrectly solving the equation by reading it sequentially from left to right, a common error that leads to the wrong answer. This approach ignores the mathematical hierarchy that gives priority to multiplication and division.
Solving It Step-By-Step
Let's break down the equation using BODMAS to find the definitive answer:
- Division and Multiplication First: Calculate 7 ÷ 7 = 1 and 7 × 7 = 49.
- Rewrite the Equation: The expression now becomes: 7 + 1 + 49 - 7.
- Addition and Subtraction: Finally, solve left to right: 7 + 1 = 8; 8 + 49 = 57; 57 - 7 = 50.
The correct answer is therefore 50.
A Viral Teaching Moment
While the debate is fierce, it serves as a perfect public reminder of a crucial mathematical foundation. Teachers and mathematicians have welcomed the discussion, noting that such viral puzzles, while sometimes frustrating, engage the public with maths and reinforce essential learning in a way textbooks often cannot.
