Answer is NOT SIX?
The Reality: The Order of Operations
To solve this correctly, we have to dust off standard algebraic rules. Whether you learned it as PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction) or BODMAS (Brackets, Orders, Division/Multiplication, Addition/Subtraction), the hierarchy of math remains exactly the same.
Let's break down the expression step-by-step:
Step 1: Parentheses / Brackets First
We must always clear what is inside the parentheses first.
Now, substitute that back into our original expression:
Step 2: Multiplication Before Subtraction
This is where the internet breaks down. The term 2(4) is implied multiplication—it means . According to PEMDAS/BODMAS, multiplication must happen before subtraction. You cannot subtract 2 from 7 yet.Now, our expression looks like this:
Step 3: The Final Subtraction
Now, we simply subtract 8 from 7.The absolute, mathematically undeniable answer is −1.
Why Do These Traps Go Viral?
So why does the graphic claim the answer is "NOT SIX?"
Because it is rage-bait at its finest. By suggesting "6" is the alternative answer, the creators create double the confusion. People who got 20 argue with people who got −1, while a third group tries to figure out how anyone on earth arrived at 6in the first place (perhaps by doing , and then somehow combining the 7 and 2 in a fit of mathematical creative writing).The Anatomy of Viral Rage-Bait: Social media algorithms prioritize engagement. Nothing drives engagement faster than a comment section full of people who are absolutely convinced they are right, arguing with people who are equally convinced they are wrong.
The next time you see a math puzzle like this pop up on your feed, remember: math isn't subjective, but the internet's ability to argue about it certainly is.
Did you get −1 on your first try, or did the trap catch you off guard?
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