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Question

If, ‘+’ represents ‘×’, ‘-‘ represents ‘+’, ‘×’ represents ‘÷’ and ‘÷’ represents ‘-‘ then find the value of the following expression.

9 × 3 + 6 ÷ 2 = ?

This question was previously asked in
RRB ALP/Technician 2018 CBT 2 Electronics Mechanic Question Paper (23-Jan-2019) (Shift 1)
The correct answer is

16

Evaluating Expressions with Symbol Substitutions

This problem requires us to first understand the new meanings assigned to the mathematical operators and then apply these rules to the given expression to find its numerical value. We will use the standard order of operations (BODMAS/PEMDAS) after the symbols have been substituted.

Understanding the Symbol Rules

The question provides a specific set of rules for substituting standard mathematical operators:

  • The symbol '+' represents '\(\times\)' (multiplication).
  • The symbol '-' represents '+' (addition).
  • The symbol '\(\times\)' represents '\(\div\)' (division).
  • The symbol '\(\div\)' represents '-' (subtraction).

Applying Substitutions to the Expression

The original expression given is:

\(\qquad 9 \times 3 + 6 \div 2\)

Now, we substitute the symbols in this expression according to the rules provided:

  • The '\(\times\)' between 9 and 3 becomes '\(\div\)'.
  • The '+' between 3 and 6 becomes '\(\times\)'.
  • The '\(\div\)' between 6 and 2 becomes '-'.

So, the new expression after substitution is:

\(\qquad 9 \div 3 \times 6 - 2\)

Evaluating the Modified Expression using BODMAS/PEMDAS

We need to evaluate the expression \(9 \div 3 \times 6 - 2\) following the order of operations:

BODMAS/PEMDAS Order:

  1. Brackets / Parentheses
  2. Orders / Exponents
  3. Division and Multiplication (from left to right)
  4. Addition and Subtraction (from left to right)

Let's evaluate step-by-step:

  1. Division: Evaluate \(9 \div 3\).

    \(\qquad 9 \div 3 = 3\)

    The expression becomes: \(3 \times 6 - 2\).
  2. Multiplication: Evaluate \(3 \times 6\).

    \(\qquad 3 \times 6 = 18\)

    The expression becomes: \(18 - 2\).
  3. Subtraction: Evaluate \(18 - 2\).

    \(\qquad 18 - 2 = 16\)

The final value of the expression after applying the symbol substitutions and evaluating is 16.

Summary of Steps

Step Description Expression
1 Original Expression \(9 \times 3 + 6 \div 2\)
2 Apply Symbol Substitutions \(9 \div 3 \times 6 - 2\)
3 Evaluate Division (\(9 \div 3\)) \(3 \times 6 - 2\)
4 Evaluate Multiplication (\(3 \times 6\)) \(18 - 2\)
5 Evaluate Subtraction (\(18 - 2\)) $16$

Final Answer Evaluation

After performing the required symbol substitutions and following the order of operations, the value of the expression \(9 \times 3 + 6 \div 2\) (under the given rules) is 16.

Revision Table: Symbol Substitution and Expression Evaluation

Original Symbol New Meaning Example
+ \(\times\) \(A+B \rightarrow A \times B\)
- + \(A-B \rightarrow A + B\)
\(\times\) \(\div\) \(A \times B \rightarrow A \div B\)
\(\div\) - \(A \div B \rightarrow A - B\)

Additional Information: Order of Operations (BODMAS/PEMDAS)

The order of operations is a crucial rule in mathematics to ensure calculations are performed in a consistent sequence, leading to a unique correct answer. The acronyms BODMAS or PEMDAS help remember this order:

  • Brackets / Parentheses: Operations inside brackets or parentheses are performed first.
  • Orders / Exponents: Powers, square roots, and other orders are calculated next.
  • Division and Multiplication: These are performed from left to right as they appear in the expression.
  • Addition and Subtraction: These are performed last, also from left to right as they appear.

In the expression \(9 \div 3 \times 6 - 2\), division (\(9 \div 3\)) comes before multiplication (\(3 \times 6\)) because division appears first when reading from left to right among the division and multiplication operations. Then subtraction (\(18 - 2\)) is performed.

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Similar Questions

  1. If ‘+’ represents ‘×’, ‘÷’ represents ‘+’, ‘-’ represents ‘÷’ and ‘×’ represents ‘-’, then find the value of the following expression.

    8 + 4 ÷ 15 – 3 × 1
  2. Using the following sequence, determine which of the given options does not belong to the group.

    R B 7 5 E % M 3 W 4 8 Q 9 # B 2 A $ M S
  3. Select the appropriate combination of mathematical operators to be sequentially placed between the numbers given on the left of the following equation so that LHS = RHS.

    5035 = 20
  4. Solve the following:

    (-6)[40 ÷ {7 - (-3)}] = ? 

  5. Which of the following signs and numbers should be interchanged such that for the following expression, LHS = RHS.

    6 × 4 + 2 = 16 

  6. In the word ACCUMULATE, if the 1st letter is interchanged with the 2nd, 3rd letter with the 4th, 5th with the 6th, 7th with the 8th and 9th with the 10th, then the 6th letter from the left will be:

  7. Which two mathematical symbols need to be interchanged to correct the below equation?

    9 + 3 × 2 – 8 ÷ 4 = 8

  8. Consider that 5 # 11 = 4; 13 # 7 = 5; 10 # 22 = 8. Then what is the value of 10 # 2 = ?

  9. In the following triad, each group of letters is related to the subsequent one following a certain logic. Select from the given options, the one which follows the same logic. GRAND-GRNAD-DNARG
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Important Questions from Logical Puzzle

  1. Seven persons P, Q, R, S, T, U and V like different watches namely W1, W2, W3, W4, W5, W6 and W7 (not necessarily in the same order). P and R do not like odd numbered watch. T likes W5. U does not like W2 or W3 or W6 or W7. P likes prime numbered watch. Q likes W4. S likes W2 or W7. Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct ?

    I. S likes W7.

    II. R likes W2.

    III. U likes W1.

    IV. V likes W3.

  2. If ‘+’ means ‘×’, ‘×’ means ‘÷’, ‘÷’ means ‘–’ and ‘–’ means ‘+’, then

    16 + 18 × 3 ÷ 6 = ?

  3. In a certain code language, ‘Today is last match’ is written as ‘Sa Te Mo Pt’, ‘Last king like your team’ is written as ‘De Ra Mo Lo Zs’, ‘Our team won today match’ is written as ‘Te Ra Pt Ae We’. What is the code for ‘Our won is Last’ in that code language?

  4. In a certain code language, ‘LETTER’ is written as ‘ZLZYIO’. What is the code for ‘ACTION’ in that code language?

  5. If A denotes ‘+’, B denotes ‘×’, C denotes ‘-’, and D denotes ‘÷’, then what will come in place of ‘?’ in the following equation?

    34 A 15 B 3 C 11 B 2 A (51 D 17) = ?

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