It’s the classic viral trap: a deceptively simple math equation posted on social media with a bold claim.
“Answer is NOT SIX?” At first glance, it looks like middle-school algebra. Yet, comment sections under posts like this inevitably devolve into chaotic debates. Some confidently declare the answer is 20. Others insist it’s -1. And a loud contingent is absolutely certain the answer is, indeed, 6.
So, who is right, why is the image telling us the answer isn’t six, and what is the actual mathematical truth? Let’s break it down.
Step-by-Step: Solving the Equation
To solve 7 – 2(8 – 4) correctly, we must follow the standard order of operations, often remembered by the acronyms PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction) or BODMAS (Brackets, Orders, Division/Multiplication, Addition/Subtraction).Here is how the math actually works:
