Every now and then, the internet stumbles upon a math problem that looks easy… but ends up dividing everyone into teams, sparking debates, and filling comment sections with confident answers that don’t match.
And this time, the troublemaker is:
15 ÷ 3 × 5 – 5!
At first glance, it feels like a basic school-level problem. But once people start calculating, the answers explode in every direction. Why? Because factorials + PEMDAS is a combo that tricks even confident math lovers.
Let’s take a look at the most common answers people give—why they give them—and finally, the correct solution.
💭 The Most Common Answers People Think Are Right
1. “It’s 20!”
This is a super popular answer. People go straight from left to right:
15 ÷ 3 = 5
5 × 5 = 25
25 – 5 = 20
The problem?
They treated 5! as if it were just 5. But factorials don’t play by those rules.
2. “It’s -95!” (Correct logic but wrong process)
Some people do remember that 5! = 120, but they mix up the order of the operations.
They might multiply 3 × 5 first—or reorder the steps—which leads to all sorts of incorrect results.
3. The Overthinkers
Others start adding imaginary parentheses or doing steps in a custom order because the factorial symbol makes the expression look more complicated than it really is.
✅ Now Let’s Solve It the Right Way
Step 1 — Factorials come first
5! = 120
So the equation becomes:
15 ÷ 3 × 5 – 120
Step 2 — Solve division and multiplication from left to right
15 ÷ 3 = 5
5 × 5 = 25
Now we have:
25 – 120
Step 3 — Subtract
25 – 120 = –95
🎉 Final Answer: –95
This little equation is a perfect example of how people interpret math differently—especially when factorials sneak into the picture.
If you want an easy way to start a debate in your comments, this equation will definitely do the job.
