Is 7 the Answer to This Simple Riddle?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a riddle that participants are attempting to solve, specifically focusing on the interpretation of mathematical operations and the correct grouping of numbers. The scope includes conceptual reasoning and mathematical reasoning related to the riddle.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant claims the answer is 7 and questions their correctness.
  • Another participant asserts that the answer is indeed 7.
  • A different participant critiques the common left-to-right solving method, presenting an alternative grouping of the numbers that leads to a different interpretation of the riddle.
  • Another participant comments on the trend of such riddles on social media, suggesting they are used for gaining likes and shares.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is disagreement regarding the interpretation of the riddle and the correct answer, with some participants asserting 7 while others challenge the method of arriving at that conclusion.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights ambiguity in the riddle's phrasing and the potential for multiple interpretations based on grouping and order of operations.

Yankel
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I say 7, could I be wrong ?

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:cool:
 

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Yes, it is 7.

-Dan
 
Most people will try to solve it "as they read": left-to-right:

6 - 1 = 5

5 x 0 = 0

0 + 2 = 2

2 $\div$ 2 = 1

This is incorrect.

The "proper" (if somewhat ambiguous, given the context) grouping is:

6-(1$\times$0)+(2$\div$2)
 
Yes, it is 7. And people on Facebook keep using this kind of "riddle" to gain likes and shares to increase their accounts' web traffic. It is a bit better rather than showing some suffering people in third world countries, though.
 

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