Why Your Brain May Be Tricking You: Understanding the Solution to 6-6×6+6
Have you ever found yourself scratching your head trying to solve complex equations that seem to have no easy solution? Well, you’re not alone. The human brain is a complex and mysterious organ that often tricks us into believing things that aren’t accurate. One particular equation that has stumped even the most experienced mathematicians is 6-6×6+6. Sounds easy, right? But wait, is the answer -12 or 18? In this article, we’ll explore why your brain may be tricking you and how to solve the equation accurately.
Misinterpreting the Order of Operations
One of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to solving equations is the order of operations. PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, and Addition and Subtraction) is the acronym used to show the correct order of operations. However, not everyone interprets PEMDAS correctly. In this particular equation, the order of operations is often misinterpreted due to the absence of brackets and parentheses. Most people would solve the equation from left to right, giving different answers. However, this is not the correct way to solve the equation.
Understanding the Solution
The correct way to solve this equation is by following the order of operations. First, we need to perform multiplication and division. The equation is rewritten as 6-36+6. Secondly, we need to perform addition and subtraction. So, the equation becomes -24+6, which is equal to -18.
It’s important to understand that in this equation, the multiplication symbol takes precedence over addition and subtraction. This means that we need to solve the multiplication operation first before we can move to the next step.
Why Your Brain May Be Tricking You
Our brain is wired to focus on patterns and shortcuts when solving problems. This is one of the reasons why when we’re solving equations, we tend to take shortcuts and miss important steps. In the case of the equation 6-6×6+6, our brain might tell us that we need to solve the subtraction operation first. This is where things can get tricky and why it’s essential to understand the correct order of operations.
Takeaway
It’s easy to assume that you already know how to solve equations, but the truth is, our brains can often trick us. Understanding the correct order of operations is crucial to solving complex equations accurately. When in doubt, use PEMDAS and always double-check your work. Don’t be discouraged if you got the wrong answer before, just remember to approach the problem one step at a time. With practice, you’ll be solving complex equations in no time.
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