A simple-looking high school math equation is circulating online and leaving many adults second-guessing their skills. The problem is: 15 − 4 × 3 + 2 = ?
At first glance the expression appears straightforward, yet people keep arriving at different answers. Some calculate from left to right and get 35. Others subtract first and end up with 5 or even other results.
The correct solution follows the standard order of operations, often remembered as PEMDAS or BODMAS. Multiplication must be completed before addition or subtraction.
First multiply 4 × 3, which equals 12. The equation then becomes 15 − 12 + 2.
Working left to right, 15 minus 12 equals 3, and 3 plus 2 equals 5. The final answer is therefore 5.
The viral puzzle has reminded many that the rules taught in school still matter, even when a problem looks deceptively simple.