Can You Solve These Viral Math Puzzles?

Viral Math Puzzle 1: The Order of Operations Challenge

Social media is abuzz with the puzzle:

6 + 6 + 6 + 6 x 0 = ?

The correct answer hinges on understanding the order of operations, often remembered by the acronym PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division (from left to right), Addition, and Subtraction (from left to right)). In this puzzle, multiplication comes before addition.

Therefore, the correct solution is:

6+6+6+(6×0)=6+6+6+0=18

Many people might initially think the answer is 0, but adhering to the order of operations reveals the true answer is 18.

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Puzzle 2: The 1992 Knowledge Test

A classic puzzle from a 1992 test asks:

6 – 1 x 0 + 3 : 3 = ?

Using PEMDAS to solve this, the correct order is:

1. Multiplication first: 1×0=0
2. Division next: 3÷3=1

So the expression becomes:

6−0+1

Now, we perform the addition and subtraction from left to right:

6−0=6

6+1=7

Thus, the solution is 7.

Misinterpreting the order can lead to vastly different answers, emphasizing why these principles are taught early in mathematics education.