Simple frequently go viral across social media platforms, sparking intense debates in comment sections everywhere. What appears to be a basic arithmetic problem often splits readers into opposing camps, each convinced that their answer is the only correct one. A classic example is the viral viral math riddle featuring the expression 6 – 6 × 6, accompanied by the provocative claim that the answer is definitely not 36.
While the math behind this equation relies on fundamental rules taught in elementary school, thousands of adult solvers fall into predictable cognitive traps when attempting to calculate it quickly. In this article, we will dissect the exact behind the equation, explain why so many people arrive at the wrong result, explore the order of operations, and highlight the cognitive benefits of solving logic teasers regularly.
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Understanding the Order of Operations: PEMDAS and BODMAS
To evaluate any mathematical expression containing more than one operation, mathematicians follow a standardized set of rules known as the order of operations. Without a universally accepted sequence, mathematical equations would produce multiple conflicting answers, rendering financial contracts, engineering blueprints, and scientific calculations unreliable.
Depending on where you attended school, you likely learned this rule through a mnemonic acronym:
- PEMDAS: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division (from left to right), Addition and Subtraction (from left to right).
- BODMAS: Brackets, Orders (powers/roots), Division and Multiplication (from left to right), Addition and Subtraction (from left to right).
- BIDMAS: Brackets, Indices, Division and Multiplication (from left to right), Addition and Subtraction (from left to right).
Regardless of the specific acronym used in your local education system, the underlying hierarchy remains identical across the globe.
