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It’s never too late to learn something new, no matter your age.
Recently, social media users have been buzzing over a seemingly simple elementary math equation shared on X (formerly known as Twitter). What appeared straightforward at first glance turned out to be a head-scratcher for many.
During the weekend, the user @BholanathDutta posted the equation to his followers, sparking widespread confusion and prompting many to reflect on their past inattentiveness in math class.
The equation in question is 9 x 9 + 9 – 9.
The user gently reminded everyone to use the PEMDAS rule—a basic order of operations guideline taught in 5th grade that many have since forgotten.
If you need a refresher, the acronym stands for (starting from left to right): Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, then Addition and Subtraction.
Most of the comments under the post guessed 81, while a few others confidently posted wild card answers like 91, 82 and 80 — proving this math formula might not have been as easy to solve as they assumed it to be.
The correct answer to the equation is, drumroll, please…
81.
@BholanathDutta technically didn’t confirm 81 to be correct, but if you follow PEMDAS, all roads lead to that number as the equation’s answer.
Who knows how many cheated since the majority wrote 81, and only a few explained how they figured out their final answer.
This X page is known for posting brain teasers and puzzles.
Another head-scratcher recently posted was “Take 16. Multiply it by half, then add 8. What do you obtain?”
This one was not as straightforward, as the answers in the thread were all over the place.
Some guessed as low as 16 and 40.
While others confidently wrote 132 and 136.
These brain stumpers are proof that back in elementary or middle school, when you were sitting bored, trying to listen to your teacher and thought to yourself, ‘When am I ever going to need to use this math?’
Well, there’s your answer.