This problem went viral in Japan after a study found 60 percent of 20 somethings could get the correct answer, down from a rate of 90 percent in the 1980s.

The problem

What is 9 – 3 ÷ 1/3 + 1 = ?

What do you think the answer is?

We explain the correct answer by using the order of operations.

Get an explanation of the solution