Challenge: Can you solve this math problem for middle schoolers – without a calculator?
Classic brain training methods are perhaps puzzles like crosswords or sudoku, but I have recently become more attracted to the type of challenge you’ll see below.
These puzzles have been flooding the web lately, probably because they are really fun!
These are old classic mathematical problems. When you were in middle or high school.
These math problems are more fun when you find yourself trying to remember the math you learned as a child.
Can you figure out the correct solution?
Here is the challenge, in the picture below.
At the top of the picture, we see the task and then four possible answers.
Which solution do you think is the correct one?
How did you come up with it?
Take your time and think about it to find the correct solution.
Done? Below you can check if you picked the right number!
A
B
C
The correct answer
The correct answer is B: 12.
Why is 12 the correct answer?
Well, if you remember from your school days, according to the order of operations, you do multiplication before addition and subtraction, so you start by solving 3 x 3, which results in 9.
Then we are left with a simpler math problem: 3 + 9 – 3 + 3
The answer is therefore 12.
Did you pick the correct number? Congratulations!
My Avaricious In-Laws Attempted to Dismiss Our Ill Mother, but She Cleverly Schooled Them
When Lexie’s husband, Cameron, learned that his parents had lost their jobs and would have to leave their home, he was deeply troubled. Lexie felt for him and decided to let her mother take them in, even though they didn’t have room themselves.
Cameron’s parents, Jessica and Roger, moved into Lexie’s mother’s spacious home, which was already adapted for her mother’s wheelchair needs. Initially, things seemed to go smoothly, with Jessica cooking meals and Roger helping with yard work. However, that didn’t last long.
Soon, they started to complain about their living situation. They were unhappy that Lexie’s mother occupied the first floor and criticized the simple meals she provided. Despite finding jobs, Jessica as a librarian and Roger as a proofreader, they refused to buy their own groceries.
Concerned for her mother, Lexie noticed that Jessica and Roger were even suggesting that her mother move to a nursing home. When Lexie confronted her mom about it, her mother assured her that she could handle the situation.
A few days later, Lexie’s mother told Jessica and Roger to pack up and move downstairs, claiming she needed a nursing home. However, instead of moving to the first floor, her mother called social services for help.
The next day, social workers arrived, ready to assist Jessica and Roger in finding social housing. They were furious and confronted Lexie and Cameron. Jessica shouted that it was unfair, while Roger claimed they had done so much for Lexie’s mother.
Cameron felt torn between his parents and his wife, but Lexie defended her mother, reminding them that they had taken advantage of her kindness. Despite their protests, Jessica and Roger were told they would have to find their own way.
Though angry, they were eventually placed in a small apartment near their jobs. Afterward, Cameron worried it was all his fault, but Lexie reassured him that his parents had been ungrateful.
That night, Lexie suggested they visit his parents to check on them. The next day, they found Jessica and Roger surrounded by unpacked boxes and the smell of burnt toast. They admitted to their wrongdoings and realized they had taken advantage of Lexie’s mother.
Cameron expressed his disappointment in them, explaining how their behavior affected him. Lexie stayed quiet, allowing Cameron to speak his mind while they all shared a meal. On their way home, Cameron stopped to buy flowers for Lexie’s mother, showing his appreciation for her kindness.
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