Solving simple mathematical puzzles: adults struggle with tasks fit for primary school students
7 February 2024 17:17, updated: 7 March 2024 09:02
Online, mathematical and logical puzzles are extremely popular. They allow us to test our ability to think quickly, our level of knowledge, and also apply these skills in practice.
Only a handful can solve this puzzle. What's the solution?
A type of puzzle that seems simple enough, yet many people make mistakes with, are those related to the order of operations. An example that divides opinion amongst online users is a simple equation. In theory, it should be easily solved by a primary school student. However, many people struggle to provide the correct solution.
8 ÷ 4 (1+1) = ?
The common answers posted online are 1 and 4, causing users to debate which result is correct. Of course, only one opinion can be correct - the outcome of the presented equation is 4.
The task in question is straightforward. Here's how to solve it
How does one solve this task? The most crucial thing is to remember the order of operations. The operation within the brackets should be performed first: 1+1 equals 2. Following this, execute the other operations in the prescribed order: division, followed by multiplication. So, 8 ÷ 4 equals 2, and 2 times 2 equals 4.
It's not just online puzzles that pose significant challenges. Sometimes, even tasks from primary school textbooks can prove too complex for adults. This is mainly because the instructions printed within these books are not always entirely clear, resulting in multiple possible solutions.
In the case of the discussed task, which has divided internet users, this is not the case - the order of operations is always the same.
