Math riddles and viral brain teasers frequently sweep through social media, leaving thousands of people debating in the comment sections. One equation that regularly goes viral is:
\mathbf{8 \times 8 + 8 \div 8}
Many people rush through it and confidently claim the answer is 100. However, that answer is completely incorrect! So why is 100 wrong, and how do you get the actual correct result? Let’s break it down step-by-step.
The Common Mistake: Why Do People Get 100?
People who arrive at 100 usually fall into one of two traps:
- Calculating Left-to-Right without order: If you simply calculate strictly from left to right:
- 8 \times 8 = 64
- 64 + 8 = 72
- 72 \div 8 = 9 (Which yields 9, not 100!)
- Misgrouping numbers: Others incorrectly add the middle terms first (8 + 8 = 16), multiply, and divide in non-standard ways trying to reach a round number like 100.
Either way, arriving at 100 requires ignoring the fundamental rules of mathematics!
The Correct Solution: Order of Operations (PEMDAS / BODMAS)
In mathematics, operations must follow a strict order of priority:
- Parentheses / Brackets
- Exponents / Orders
- Multiplication and Division (from left to right)
- Addition and Subtraction (from left to right)
Applying PEMDAS / BODMAS to our equation:
\mathbf{8 \times 8 + 8 \div 8}
Step 1: Perform Multiplication and Division first
- Multiplication: 8 \times 8 = 64
- Division: 8 \div 8 = 1
Now substitute those results back into the equation:
64 + 1
Step 2: Perform Addition
- 64 + 1 = \mathbf{65}
Conclusion
The correct answer to this viral puzzle is 65!
Next time you encounter a similar equation on your feed, remember: multiplication and division always take precedence over addition and subtraction.
Did you get 65 right away, or did you fall into the trap of 100? Let us know in the comments below!