A fun and yet challenging mathematical puzzle has been making rounds on the internet and people suggested only geniuses can solve it.
If you’re a fan of down-to-earth puzzles involving basic math, this is the right one for you. Your job this time is to look carefully at the picture below and find out what the missing number is.
Before we start with the breakdown of the math problem in question, we would like to give you a few tips to get started. One, take note of the two subtraction signs and two multiplication signs. Two, keep in mind that multiplication has a higher priority than subtraction and addition.
Did you come up with an answer yet? Is it 0? Or 18? 21, perhaps? Though all of these answers are wrong, there are actually TWO possible solutions to our puzzle. One CORRECT answer is 15 and the other CORRECT answer is 20. If you managed to find both, congrats, you’re nothing short of genius!
Here’s how to solve the math problem and find the missing number step by step.
First, let’s assume that B stands for a blue car, R for a red car, and G for a green car.
B + B + B = 18, meaning that 3B = 18 and that B = 6. Therefore, the value of the blue car is 6.
R + R + R = 9, meaning that 3R = 9 and that R = 3. Therefore, the value of the red car is 3.
When it comes to green cars, things get a bit more complicated. By using the trial and error technique, you can find two possible solutions as shown below.
G x G – G = 6, meaning that G can be 3 because 3 x 3 – 3 = 6 [9 – 3 = 6 due to multiplication having higher priority than subtraction].
G, however, can also be -2, whereas (– 2) x (– 2) – (– 2) = 6 [4 + 2 = 6]
If we follow the first path, B X R – G equals 6 x 3 – 3 [18 – 3], meaning that the correct answer is 15.
If we pursue the second option, B X R – G equals 6 x 3 –(– 2) [18 + 2], meaning that the correct answer is 20.
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