At first glance, many people quickly answer 6, but this puzzle is designed to test whether you pay attention to the order of operations.

The Puzzle

18 ÷ 3(1 + 2)

Step 1: Solve the Parentheses

First, calculate what’s inside the parentheses:

1 + 2 = 3

Now the expression becomes:

18 ÷ 3(3)

or

18 ÷ 3 × 3

Step 2: Follow the Order of Operations

Multiplication and division have the same priority, so you work from left to right.

18 ÷ 3 = 6

6 × 3 = 18

✅ Final Answer: 18

Why Do People Get 6?

Many people mistakenly treat 3(3) as if it must be calculated before division, turning the expression into:

18 ÷ 9 = 2

Others assume a different interpretation and arrive at 6.

However, according to the standard left-to-right rule for multiplication and division, the expression evaluates to 18.

🎯 Conclusion

The correct answer is:

18 ÷ 3(1 + 2) = 18

Did you get it right, or were you tricked by the “Answer is NOT 6!” warning? 😄