Can you figure out the correct solution?

Here is the challenge, in the picture below.

At the top of the picture, we see the math problem and then two possible answers.

Which solution do you think is the correct one?

How did you come up with it?

Take your time and think about it so you can find the correct solution for the math problem.

Done? Below you can check if you picked the right number!

ANSWER:

The correct answer

The answer is 1.

Why is 1 the correct answer?

Based on the Order of Operations mnemonic (BODMAS for UK or PEMDAS for the US). When talking about solving the Brackets/Parentheses it means not just solving what is inside the brackets but also any factors directly attached to those brackets/parentheses. Without a multiplication symbol in the original question, the factor outside the brackets must be calculated as part of the Brackets/Parentheses stage and not as part of the later Multiplication/Division stage (using left to right). This “Implicit Multiplication” (aka Multiplication by Juxtaposition) has higher precedence than normal Multiplication.

48 ÷ 8(14 – 8) =
48 ÷ 8(6) =
48 ÷ 48 =
1

Again, the correct answer is 1. The 8 is directly attached to the (14 – 8) and must be calculated as part of that term in the equation.

Wrong Answer

Here is the wrong answer, even though it correctly did what is inside the brackets/parentheses first:

48 ÷ 8(14 – 8) =
48 ÷ 8(6) =
48 ÷ 8 x 6 =
6 x 6 =
36

You might ask why this is wrong.

The reason is that 8(6) is NOT THE SAME as 8 x 6 even if both are equal to 48.

If the challenge question asked was stated as 48 ÷ 8 x (14 – 8) = ?, I would happily agree that the answer is 36, but that is not the question as there is no multiplication symbol before the brackets/parentheses.

Did you pick the correct number? Congratulations!