Anyone up for solving this puzzle?

[summeriscomingsoon]

A gold star for a correct answer



Just to complicate things further there is a move away from teaching BIDMAS because division and multiply have equal precedence, as does addition and subtraction- I teach it as order of operations

Excellent!

@2018SoFarSoGreat

This was great fun reading OP. Would be even funnier as the evening goes on and glasses get emptied. I'm watching.

And enjoying my star.

Bodmas!

It is funny how people come to different answers.

Loved the one who came up with 4.7. She was a teacher as well. Took it in good spirits as it's just a bit of fun.

@SandAndSea

I'm changing my answer to 11. (I haven't got my glasses on.)

No

I originally thought 25, only then I noticed that the clock time, number if bananas and choc chips were all different. It has to be 10. so bodmas is not the only trap.

@YetAnotherSpartacus

Just to complicate things further there is a move away from teaching BIDMAS because division and multiply have equal precedence, as does addition and subtraction- I teach it as order of operations

Excellent!

I think that's what the article that I linked to earlier was trying to say.

And yes, I do remember doing sums left to right & no I wasn't badly taught as I was also taught when one can't do sums left to right.

So I think that for some people who are getting it wrong, they've gone left to right, forgetting when that doesn't apply.

Apart from the puzzle itself, this thread is the greatest example of poor forum etiquette that abounds now! So many people not bothering to read other posters' posts. The answer and the explanation has been given several times, but still people are asking 'what's BODMAS/BIDMAS' or for the answer to be explained!

... and although it really doesn't matter on a lighthearted thread like this, it absolutely does matter when you see the same thing happening on a relationships thread, say, where things can move on very quickly.

or even 'off'!

12

Oh no, just noticed it's x not +...so 11?

@sosleepynow

Oh no, just noticed it's x not +...so 11?

No

I've been wondering about that @BIWI and concluded that the context here encourages people to post their answers as 'all their own work' without reading other answers

• And yes, I do remember doing sums left to right & no I wasn't badly taught as I was also taught when one can't do sums left to right.

Given the origins of algebra, if reading order was used maybe we'd have had to do right to left. obviously a system reliant on order would fall apart as soon as you hit 'rearrange the equation'...!

Right to left would mean in this case that everyone would the correct answer!

Assuming correct number of choc chips etc

@BIWI

Apart from the puzzle itself, this thread is the greatest example of poor forum etiquette that abounds now! So many people not bothering to read other posters' posts. The answer and the explanation has been given several times, but still people are asking 'what's BODMAS/BIDMAS' or for the answer to be explained!

It's obvious why people aren't reading the thread before they post. I didn't because I wanted to try the puzzle for myself. When I posted my first answer I saw the posts about counting choc chips/raisins and adjusted my answer, wrongly as it happens. This thread would be very short if people read the answers first and how boring would that be.

The real question is whether they are choc chips or raisins (or currants) of course.

Upon reflection, I am changing my answer.

They are currants.

12

11

YetAnotherSpartacus no, you were right first time. If applying the BODMAS principle it’s always choc chips and never ever currants

I've been wondering about that @BIWI and concluded that the context here encourages people to post their answers as 'all their own work' without reading other answers

This is true but then why would someone ask ‘what is BODMAS?’ They can only have seen it mentioned because they’ve read (at least some of) the thread!

‘Scuse bold fail.

28

No sorry, 10

18

10