Viral question - The Main Question Everyone Got Wrong
TLDRThis video challenges viewers with a simple math problem that has caused much debate: 36 divided by 3, 8 minus 6 in parentheses, all divided by 6. The presenter explains that while many people argue the answer is either one or four, the correct answer is four. They delve into the order of operations, emphasizing that division and multiplication should be done from left to right. The video also highlights how historical interpretations of division symbols could lead to confusion. The presenter encourages viewers to check their answers with scientific or graphing calculators to avoid common mistakes and learn from the error.
Takeaways
- 🧩 The video presents a math problem involving basic arithmetic operations: division, subtraction, and multiplication.
- 🤔 The problem is controversial, with people arguing over whether the correct answer is one or four.
- 👉 The challenge is to calculate \( \frac{36}{3 \times (8 - 6)} \) by six, which seems simple but has led to confusion.
- 🕵️♂️ The video emphasizes the importance of understanding the correct order of operations to solve the problem accurately.
- ✅ The first step is to simplify the expression inside the parentheses, which results in \( 8 - 6 = 2 \).
- 🔢 After simplification, the problem becomes \( \frac{36}{3 \times 2} \) divided by six.
- 🔄 There is a debate on whether to perform multiplication first or division, which affects the outcome.
- 👴 Historically, the division symbol was sometimes interpreted as dividing by the entire right-hand side expression, which is not the modern approach.
- 🔢 Using modern calculators and the standard order of operations, the correct answer is calculated from left to right, resulting in four.
- 📚 The video explains that including parentheses changes the interpretation and can lead to a different answer, which would be one in this case.
- 📘 It is crucial to be aware of the correct mathematical conventions and how they have evolved over time to avoid errors.
Q & A
What is the main problem presented in the video?
-The main problem presented in the video is a mathematical problem involving the order of operations: 36 divided by 3, 8 minus 6 in parentheses, and then the result divided by 6.
What are the two different answers people have been arguing about for this problem?
-People have been arguing that the correct answer is either one or four.
What is the first step in solving the problem according to the video?
-The first step in solving the problem is to simplify the expression inside the parentheses.
Why does the order of operations matter in this problem?
-The order of operations matters because it determines the sequence in which calculations are performed, which can lead to different answers.
What is the historical interpretation of division that some people might have learned?
-Historically, the division symbol was used to mean that you should divide by the entire product on the right-hand side of the symbol.
How does the video explain the difference between historical and modern interpretation of the division symbol?
-The video explains that historically, division might have been interpreted to mean dividing by the entire expression on the right, but modern calculators and current mathematical practice evaluate expressions from left to right.
What is the correct answer to the problem as explained in the video?
-The correct answer to the problem, as explained in the video, is four (4), following the modern interpretation of the order of operations.
Why might some people have gotten the wrong answer?
-Some people might have gotten the wrong answer because they might have been influenced by the historical interpretation of division or misunderstood the order of operations.
How can one avoid making the same mistake in the future?
-To avoid making the same mistake in the future, one should apply the order of operations as currently understood and practice with scientific or graphing calculators that evaluate expressions from left to right.
What is the importance of the video's emphasis on a basic math concept?
-The video emphasizes a basic math concept to highlight why many people might get the problem incorrect and to educate viewers on the correct approach to solving such problems.
What advice does the video give for checking the solution to the problem?
-The video advises using a scientific or graphing calculator to check the solution by inputting the entire problem at once, rather than typing in the operations sequentially.
Outlines
🔢 Math Problem Introduction and Order of Operations
The video script begins with the host welcoming viewers to their channel and introducing a math problem that has sparked debate among people. The problem involves basic arithmetic operations: division, subtraction, and multiplication, with the expression '36 divided by 3, 8 - 6 in parentheses, and then the entire expression divided by 6'. The host mentions that while the problem seems simple, many people are getting it wrong and are divided into two camps: those who believe the answer is one, and those who believe it's four. The host promises to reveal the correct answer and emphasize an important basic math concept that leads to the confusion. The first step in solving the problem, as agreed by everyone, is to simplify the expression inside the parentheses, which in this case is '8 - 6', resulting in '2'. The script then moves on to discuss the order of operations and how it affects the outcome of the problem.
📚 Historical Perspective on Division and Calculator Usage
In the second paragraph, the script delves into the historical interpretation of division symbols and how they might have been used differently 100 years ago. The host explains that some people may have learned to interpret division as dividing by the entire expression on the right-hand side of the symbol, which is not how modern calculators operate. The script provides an example with 'x²y / xy' to illustrate the point and emphasizes the importance of parentheses in clarifying the intended operation. The host then demonstrates how to correctly interpret the given problem using modern calculators, which evaluate expressions from left to right. The script also suggests using a scientific or graphing calculator to verify the correct answer, which is '24 divided by 6', resulting in '4'. The host reassures viewers that it's okay to have made a mistake and encourages them to learn from it and practice to improve their skills.
👋 Closing Remarks and Encouragement for Mathematical Practice
The final paragraph of the script wraps up the video with a warm farewell to the viewers. The host thanks them for their time and encourages them to continue their mathematical adventures, expressing hope that they have learned something new from the video. The host also invites viewers to check out more of their videos for basic math interests, brain tests, and IQ questions. The script ends on a positive note, wishing viewers a great day and looking forward to seeing them in the next video.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Viral question
💡Order of operations
💡Parentheses
💡Division
💡Multiplication
💡Subtraction
💡Calculator
💡Scientific graphing calculator
💡Interpretation
💡Historical usage
💡Correct answer
Highlights
A viral math problem is presented that many people get wrong.
The problem involves basic arithmetic operations: division, subtraction, and multiplication.
There is a debate between two possible answers: one or four.
The correct order of operations is crucial for solving the problem accurately.
First step is to simplify the expression inside the parentheses.
Division and multiplication have the same precedence, evaluated from left to right.
Historically, the division symbol was used differently, which could lead to a different interpretation.
Modern calculators evaluate expressions from left to right, not based on older usage.
The correct answer, according to modern calculators, is option B, which is four.
Using parentheses can change the interpretation and the answer to the problem.
Older usage would suggest the answer is one, but this is not how modern calculators operate.
It's important to understand the correct order of operations to avoid common mistakes.
The video emphasizes a basic math concept that often leads to incorrect answers.
The video provides a detailed explanation to help viewers understand where mistakes are made.
The video encourages viewers to check their answers using scientific or graphing calculators.
Learning from mistakes in math can improve understanding and prevent future errors.
The video offers additional resources for learning basic math, brain teasers, and IQ questions.