“Understanding the Order of Operations: Solving a Simple Math Puzzle”
\[ 9 \div 3 + 9(9 – 3) = ? \]
Step-by-Step Solution:
1. **Evaluate the expression inside the parentheses**:
\[ 9 – 3 = 6 \]
2. **Perform the division**:
\[ 9 \div 3 = 3 \]
3. **Substitute these values back into the expression**:
\[ 3 + 9 \times 6 \]
4. **Perform the multiplication**:
\[ 9 \times 6 = 54 \]
5. **Finally, add the results**:
\[ 3 + 54 = 57 \]
Conclusion:
The correct answer to the expression is **57**.
This puzzle is a simple test of order of operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS), where you first handle parentheses, then exponents (if any), followed by multiplication and division from left to right, and finally addition and subtraction from left to right.
This type of question is a common example used in math puzzles to test basic arithmetic skills and the understanding of the correct order in which to perform operations.
