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Simple maths question stumping the internet

You could have a top IQ if you can solve this simple maths problem in under 15 seconds.

This first grade maths problem has the internet stumped

What looks like a simple maths problem has left the internet stumped.

Puzzlers have been coming up with two different answers to 6÷2(1+2), The Sun reports, depending on which method they use to solve it.

Brain teaser lovers have been divided in using the PEMDAS and BIDMAS methods.

PEMDAS, which is the more modern equation, stands for parenthesis, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, then subtraction.

You could have a top IQ if you can solve this simple maths problem in under 15 seconds. Picture: Mind Your Decisions/YouTube
You could have a top IQ if you can solve this simple maths problem in under 15 seconds. Picture: Mind Your Decisions/YouTube

Using this route, you should do 1+2, making 3.

The equation then becomes 6÷2(3) and the parenthesis around the 3 means it should be multiplied by what comes before it.

It then becomes 3x3 – making the answer 9.

But this has been disputed by those using the old formation, BIDMAS, which stands for brackets, indices, division, multiplication, addition, and subtraction.

Brain teaser lovers using this method complete 1+2, making 3, and then do 2x3, making 6.

To complete the problem, they do 6÷6, making the answer 1.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/simple-maths-question-stumping-the-internet/news-story/51bf9c406a6f28f9dec161c69eaa1802