Simple But Many People Got It WRONG

[Science Geek]

I posted this the other day on my facebook fan page and O Boy, I got so many wrong answers. Lets see how you guys do here.

What is your answer?

Edited July 26, 2013 by Science Geek

[Mikko-kun]

9+3? 930!!

[EllJay]

12

[Likely Guy]

a) 18

Pretty tricky though. Initially my brain transposed the 'x' and the '+'.

Edited July 26, 2013 by Likely Guy

[_Only]

Well, I may have gotten an almost unbelievable horrid high 20 out of 100 score on my college assessment for college level algebra, but I vaguely remember from junior high that you always multiply any numbers in a problem, before tackling the adding and subtracting. So, I did 3 + (3 x 3) - 3 + 3, getting 12.

Did EllJay and I win? Tel me we won!

Otherwise I'll have to forever tell people I got a 99 out of 100 on my writing assessment when they ask how good I am at math.

[Odin11]

3 + (3 x 3) - 3 + 3 = 12

Edited July 26, 2013 by Odin11

[Likely Guy]

...but I vaguely remember from junior high that you always multiply any numbers in a problem, before tackling the adding and subtracting. So, I did 3 + (3 x 3) - 3 + 3, getting 12.

Darn it, I think that you're right and I'm wrong (it has been over 35 years since junior high). I forgot that 'I' was supposed to put the brackets in.

Regardless, the answer to 'life, the universe and everything' is always 42.

[Mikko-kun]

3 + (3 x 3) - 3 + 3 = 12

No man it's 930 you got it all wrong!!!

[_Only]

How many for tea? Two!

edit: Dangit, mikko-kun snuck between your post and my clever play on words!

...

99 out of a freaking 100! Come on!

Edited July 26, 2013 by _Only

[Purplos]

12.

Multiplication is done before addition and subtraction in the order of operations.

[The Silver Thong]

18 right.....

[Likely Guy]

Or 3 + 3, x3, -3, +3 = 18

I fail Science Geek for lack of punctuation.

[+susieice]

a) 18

[Science Geek]

How many for tea? Two!

edit: Dangit, mikko-kun snuck between your post and my clever play on words!

...

99 out of a freaking 100! Come on!

Nice Drum video

[Mikko-kun]

It's 930 people.

3 + 3 x 3 - 3 + 3 =

(multiplying isn't supposed to exist in numerology so you switch it's place with the other existing entity to entitle it's existence. He posted it in UM forum because it's a mystery riddle and must be solved through mystery)

3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 0

9 3 0 = 930 !!!!

(now this could be 12 through 9 + 3 + 0 or 39 through 9 + 30 or something else depending on what numerology system you use to decipher it, so it's best you let it be like that and make your own interpretations)

[Arbenol]

3 + 3 x 3 - 3 + 3 = 18. If you perform each calculation in sequence.

But:

3 + (3 x 3) - 3 + 3 = 12

3 + 3 x (3 - 3) + 3 = 3

3 + [3 x (3 - 3)] + 3 = 6

So, essentially, all the options are potentially the correct answer.

[_Only]

It's 930 people.

3 + 3 x 3 - 3 + 3 =

(multiplying isn't supposed to exist in numerology so you switch it's place with the other existing entity to entitle it's existence. He posted it in UM forum because it's a mystery riddle and must be solved through mystery)

3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 0

9 3 0 = 930 !!!!

(now this could be 12 through 9 + 3 + 0 or 39 through 9 + 30 or something else depending on what numerology system you use to decipher it, so it's best you let it be like that and make your own interpretations)

Burn the witch!!

[_Only]

3 + 3 x 3 - 3 + 3 = 18. If you perform each calculation in sequence.

But:

3 + (3 x 3) - 3 + 3 = 12

3 + 3 x (3 - 3) + 3 = 3

3 + [3 x (3 - 3)] + 3 = 6

So, essentially, all the options are potentially the correct answer.

But we should have to follow the order of operations (PEMDAS), and not assume parts to the problem exist where they are not shown, right?

(I had to look up the term to remember)

edit: edited BOMDAS to PEMDAS, which I remember now.

The page I was looking at said 'BOMDAS'

Edited July 26, 2013 by _Only

[Arbenol]

But we should have to follow the order of operations (PEMDAS), and not assume parts to the problem exist where they are not shown, right?

(I had to look up the term to remember)

edit: edited BOMDAS to PEMDAS, which I remember now.

The page I was looking at said 'BOMDAS'

Never heard of them - well, you learn something new everyday.

Nasty business, getting your bomdas mixed up with your pemdas. Sounds painful.

[_Only]

Never heard of them - well, you learn something new everyday.

Nasty business, getting your bomdas mixed up with your pemdas. Sounds painful.

I also learned just now that British say BOMDAS and Americans say PEMDAS.

Canadians say something different than those two, but no one cares about Canadians.

[Mikko-kun]

I'm glad I learned math in Finland where we have this simple numerology system.

[Likely Guy]

You guys just made my mind melt a little bit.

Please insert proper punctuation and capitalization.

that that is

is that that

isnt isnt

[Likely Guy]

...but no one cares about Canadians.

HEY! eh?

[Zaphod222]

3 + 3 x 3 - 3 + 3 = 18. If you perform each calculation in sequence.

But:

3 + (3 x 3) - 3 + 3 = 12

3 + 3 x (3 - 3) + 3 = 3

3 + [3 x (3 - 3)] + 3 = 6

So, essentially, all the options are potentially the correct answer.

But there were no brackets, so you have to follow the priority of operations. The only correct answer is 12.

It is kind of mind-boggling that this is even an a question, but I guess it reflects the current liberal education system.

Incidentally, I just watched this:

http://www.campusreform.org/blog/?ID=4872

These COLLEGE STUDENTS don´t understand what a "fourth trimester" would mean...

Gobsmack.

[_Only]

But there were no brackets, so you have to follow the priority of operations. The only correct answer is 12.

It is kind of mind-boggling that this is even an a question, but I guess it reflects the current liberal education system.

No, it reflects the amount people actually use mathematical problems necessitating the use of a mathematical order of operations in their daily lives. Some people (like me) may not ever need to remember how to solve a written out mathematical equation for years and years. When the need may arise, they will likely have forgotten a rule or two. It doesn't reflect on any 'liberal' education system. It is simply forgetfulness of something we all did in fact learn long ago, but never really ended up using outside of school. It's far from mind boggling with this in mind, and not as dire of any systems of education as people always seem to enjoy ridiculing.