What if a simple calculation sowed doubts? A banal equation fooled thousands of people on social media.
What if a simple calculation could sow doubt in the minds of thousands of people? A seemingly basic equation has sparked a real debate on social media. Some were sure of their answer… before realizing they were wrong. So was it a trap or a simple oversight? The answer might surprise you.
This calculation that encourages everyone to doubt
Here's the equation that's driving the internet crazy:
3 × 3 − 3 ÷ 3 + 3
At first glance, nothing complicated. However, many people fall into the trap of going too fast.
Some people read the expression from left to right without thinking it through carefully. Result: incorrect answer.
And that's where everything happens.
Why do we make mistakes so easily?
The problem does not stem from the calculation itself, but from the method used.
When our brain is faced with a series of operations, it tends to choose the simplest solution: calculating in the order in which we read.
But in mathematics, there is one basic rule to follow. And that's what makes all 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 calculations should be performed:
- Parentheses
- Commands (powers)
- Multiplication and division (left to right)
- Addition and subtraction (left to right)
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