This calculation that makes everyone doubt
Here’s the equation that’s driving the internet crazy:
3 × 3 − 3 ÷ 3 + 3
At first glance, it seems simple. Yet, many fall into the trap of proceeding too quickly.
Some people read the expression from left to right without thinking. The result: an incorrect answer.
And that’s where it all happens.
Why do we make mistakes so easily?
The problem lies not in the calculation itself, but in the method used.
When faced with a series of operations, our brain tends to opt for the simplest solution: calculating in the order in which it was read.
But in mathematics, there’s a fundamental rule to follow. And it’s precisely this that makes the difference.
The rule you absolutely must know
To avoid errors, a rule called order of operations (or BODMAS/PEMDAS depending on the country) is used .
Defines the order in which to perform the calculations:
- Parenthesis
- Orders (powers)
- Multiplication and division (from left to right)
- Addition and subtraction (from left to right)
In other words, we don’t calculate everything in order… but according to a precise logic.
