Something I seen on Facebook this morning.

[bubba]

Ok, while doing my morning stroll through facebook a friend of mine answered one of the polls. This one happened to be started by a group that is pushing for no school on Fridays.

Its a VERY simple little math problem that anyone that made it out of the 4th grade should be able to answer. 40+40x0+1=?

This shows how wrong I was, and how sad our school system has gotten.

facebook_math_prob.jpg (19.26 KiB) Viewed 11430 times

of the 220,938 votes half either got it wrong, or didn't even try.

The group is not helping their case of dropping a day of teaching.

[hark]

Wow. I don't know how it's like in other areas, but in Canada, sweepstakes are required to have an element of "skill" otherwise the prize gets taxed. So they typically ask a question like this simple math problem. I didn't think people could get such questions wrong (unless they weren't properly educated in math or something), but apparently there are people who mess up on such questions.

[Manduh]

This is hilarious and very sad at the same time!! I just can't see how they could even get it wrong at all!

[ryandigweed]

I can't believe people get this wrong. It's so easy !.. Just basic Mathematics !

[dustley]

Yeah, the average person isn't too smart. :/

[stev]

Amazing that zero people got this right.

[bubba]

Amazing that zero people got this right.

Really? lots got it right, it the shocking large amount that got it wrong.

Order of operations PEMDAS - Parentheses/brackets, then Exponents/roots, then Multiplication, then Division, then Addition, then Subtraction

40+40x0+1 (multiplication first)
40+0+1 (now add)
41

[LPKath]

yes, haha ,really smart guys

[Apoptosis]

I think the lack of parentheses got people.

[spitter]

To dependent on calculators..

[bubba]

Depending on the calculator you wouldn't get the same answer. Graphing or scientific calculator that will allow you to enter the whole equation you would get the right answer, simple one like the cheapo non-scientific solar jobs you wont get the right answer.

Most adults that I have seen try this are in a hurry and don't look at the whole equation, just start working it left to right and dont follow the order of operations.