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Question

What will come in place of the question mark (?) in the following equation?
\(72\div9-15+4\times3=?\)

This question was previously asked in
SSC Stenographer 2025 Question Paper (06-Aug-2025) Shift 2
The correct answer is
5

Solving the Equation: $72 \div 9 - 15 + 4 \times 3$

To find the value that replaces the question mark (?) in the given equation, we need to follow the standard order of operations, often remembered by the acronym PEMDAS or BODMAS. This rule tells us the sequence in which to perform different mathematical operations:

  • Parentheses (or Brackets)
  • Exponents (or Orders)
  • Multiplication and Division (from left to right)
  • Addition and Subtraction (from left to right)

Step-by-Step Calculation

Let's break down the equation $72 \div 9 - 15 + 4 \times 3$ step-by-step:

  1. Division: First, perform the division operation.

    $72 \div 9 = 8$

    The equation now becomes: $8 - 15 + 4 \times 3$.

  2. Multiplication: Next, perform the multiplication operation.

    $4 \times 3 = 12$

    The equation simplifies to: $8 - 15 + 12$.

  3. Subtraction: Now, perform the subtraction from left to right.

    $8 - 15 = -7$

    The equation becomes: $-7 + 12$.

  4. Addition: Finally, perform the addition.

    $-7 + 12 = 5$

Final Result Analysis

Following the order of operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS), the calculation yields 5.

Therefore, the value that comes in place of the question mark (?) is 5.

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Similar Questions

  1. The two expressions on either side of the equal sign will have the same value if two numbers on the left-hand side are interchanged and two signs on the right-hand side are interchanged. 

    What are those two numbers (not digits) and the two signs? 

    4 × 3 ÷ 6 + 2 - 8 = 10 + 2 × 3 ÷ 5 - 18

  2. At a banquet, every 2 people shared a cake, every 6 people shared a bowl of soup, and every 8 people shared a platter of fruit. There were a total of 42 items. How many people were present at the banquet?
  3. If + means ×, × means −, − means ÷, and ÷ means +, what will be the value of the given expression?

    24 – 4 + 18 × 3 ÷ 7

  4. Which two signs need to be interchanged to make the following equation correct?
    {(78 + 70) − (6 × 2))} ÷ 2 = 10

  5. Select the correct combination of mathematical signs to sequentially replace the * signs and to balance the given equation. 

    (87 * 63) * 6 * 1 * 5

  6. Select the figure from among the given options that can replace the question mark (?) in the following series.

  7. If += -, - *, *= /, / = +; then,
    what is 6+ (4*2)-3/1?
  8. If 'Alpha' means addition, 'Beta' means subtraction, 'Gamma' means multiplication, and 'Delta' means division, then what is the
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  9. If + means -, ÷ means +, - means x , and x means ÷ then,
    what is \(35 \div 7 - 5 + 20\)?

  10. If + = \(\times\), - = +, \(\times\) = \(\div\), / = -; then,
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Important Questions from Mathematical Operations

  1. Select the set, from the given options, in which the numbers are related in the same way as are the numbers of the following sets.

    (NOTE: Operations should be performed on the whole numbers, without breaking down the numbers into its constituent digits. E.g. 13 – Operations on 13 such as adding/subtracting/multiplying etc. to 13 can be performed. Breaking down 13 into 1 and 3 and then performing mathematical operations on 1 and 3 is not allowed.)

    (6, 13, 78)

    (5, 22, 110)

  2. If + means -, - means ×, × means ÷, ÷ means +, then what will come in place of the question mark (?) in the following equation?

    28 - 6 ÷ 4 + 14 × 14 = ?

  3. In the following number-pairs, the second number is obtained by applying certain mathematical operations to the first number. Which numbers should replace X and Y so that the pattern followed by the two numbers on the left side of :: is the same as that on the right side of :: ?

    (NOTE: Operations should be performed on the whole numbers, without breaking down the numbers into its constituent digits. E.g. 13 Operations on 13 such as adding/subtracting /multiplying etc. to 13 can be performed. Breaking down 13 into 1 and 3 and then performing mathematical operations on 1 and 3 is not allowed.)

    X : 649 :: 956 : Y

  4. Which two numbers should be interchanged to make the given equation correct?

    75 ÷ 5 + 15 × 4 - 17 × 3 + (60 ÷ 6) × 10 = 100

    (Note: Interchange should be done of the entire number and not individual digits of a given number.)

  5. If '+' means minus, '-' means multiplication, '÷' means plus, and 'x' means division, then solve the equation: 
    15 - 3 + 10 x 5 ÷ 5

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