Thursday, July 19, 2012

I "less than 3" math

A friend of mine recently posted a math problem on her facebook without the answer and I was both shocked and entertained at the answers and explanations as to how people got them.


Anyone wanna play?


9-5+5 x 0+3=????

Post your answer in the comments, then we can talk about it!
Don't forget to "show your work" by explaining how you got it.




9 comments:

  1. 9-5=4
    4+5=9

    0+3=3

    9x3=27

    so, according to my calculations, the answer is 27. At first I thought it was 0 TIMES 3, in which case the answer would have been 0, but then I looked at it again ;) (unless of course I missed something really stupid and obvious!)

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  2. Replies
    1. Ok, I must be missing either something obvious or I'm reading it wrong....hmmmm

      Delete
  3. Micah you need to "show your work"

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ok, I looked at it differently and came up with 3
    9-5=4
    4+5=9
    9x0=0
    0+3=3

    ReplyDelete
  5. I get 7.

    Order of operations says multiply or divide before adding and subtracting, so 5X0 = 0. Then do the addition and subtraction of what's left: 9-5+3=7.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I got 7 also.
    I can't help but be appalled by most of the math problems I see on facebook. Not because they aren't fun to do but because people seem to have forgotten that ever-so-clever phrase, "Please excuse my dear aunt Sally." Then in a fit of wrongful arrogance they tell everybody the answer is 0 or something and brag about how easy it was because anything multiplied by 0 is obviously zero and I can't believe you guys were all fooled. :B

    I suppose I might be going off on a rant :x But Hello, I just found your blog and stopped by because I saw a math problem and got excited.

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  7. Yes. It's 7. John and SA (and hey! Welcome to my blog SA) that's exactly right.
    Order of Operations:
    Rule 1: First perform any calculations inside parentheses.
    Rule 2: Next perform all multiplications and divisions, working from left to right.
    Rule 3: Lastly, perform all additions and subtractions, working from left to right.

    I <3 Math

    ReplyDelete