The Answer to That Viral Riddle on Facebook with the Bananas, Clock and Shapes

So the following viral riddle on Facebook – with prism shapes, bananas and a clock – has been driving a few people a little crazy, especially those who finished school a few years ago!  By popular demand – here is the answer… please scroll down:

The riddle’s answer is:

15 (the number of sides of the 3 shapes) + 15 + 15 = 45

4 (bananas) + 4 + 15 = 23

4 + 3 (time on the clock) + 3 = 10

2 (time on the clock) + 3 (number of bananas) + 3 x 11 (number of sides of the 2 shapes)

= 2 + 3 + (3 x 11)

= 2 + 3 + 33

= 38

The multiplication has to be done first according to the Bodmas method, which is taught to kids in mathematics classes around the world nowadays, including in South Africa. Bodmas stands for: Brackets, Orders, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction… so multiplication comes after division and before addition.

In America it’s called Pemdas – an acronym for Parenthesis, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction (so in the US multiplication comes before division).