For years, we’ve all been caught in the endless loops of trying to make sense of those memes, viral posts, and endless debates over simple arithmetic. You know the ones – they pull up a simple math problem like “3 + 4 x 2” and challenge our very understanding of how math works. Every time someone posts a problem like that, it sparks a wave of confusion, frustration, and, let’s be honest, amusement. It’s almost as if math itself is laughing at us. And why? Because there’s an argument as old as time itself—how should we really approach the order of operations?
We’ve all been taught the same thing: BODMAS. You know, the classic “Brackets, Orders, Division/Multiplication, Addition/Subtraction” rule that somehow dictates how we approach each equation. It’s supposed to be simple, right? Except it’s not. We all know that those memes and viral posts where someone asks why the answer to “3 + 4 x 2” is 11 (and not 14), are more than just jokes. They’re a reflection of the fact that we – yes, us, the ones who grew up with BODMAS and PEMDAS – have been led down a complicated, unnecessarily convoluted path when it comes to something that should have been simple all along.
So, let’s take a step back. Let’s ask the question: What if we threw out all the unnecessary baggage of memorizing rules about multiplication before addition, or exponentiation before multiplication? What if we made math just as simple as reading a sentence from left to right?
The Left-to-Right Revolution in Math
Imagine a world where, instead of spending precious minutes trying to figure out which operation takes precedence in an equation, we simply follow the order of operations exactly as they appear. Sounds absurd? Think about it. We read sentences left to right, and we understand them perfectly. So why can’t we do the same with math? After all, it’s supposed to be a universal language, right? Why should it be so complicated?
In a system where we follow operations strictly from left to right, there’s no need for any special hierarchy. No more wracking our brains thinking, “Wait, does multiplication come before addition? Or is it the other way around?” We would finally be free from the tyranny of memorizing rules, because the rule would be simple: just do it from left to right.
You see, math is something that can be intimidating. For many, it’s been a source of frustration throughout their lives. Why? Because those rules, the BODMAS rules, they aren’t intuitive. People don’t grow up naturally understanding that multiplication and division should come before addition and subtraction. It’s not part of the human experience. We don’t see the world that way. Instead, we read, we process, and we understand things in a sequential order from left to right.
So, let’s think about it. Why is it that for something so fundamental, so basic, we can’t just follow a simple sequence? What’s stopping us from just embracing the natural order of things?
The Problem with BODMAS
Let’s talk about BODMAS for a moment. Is it really helping us? Or has it just become an added layer of confusion, a barrier between us and the simple beauty of arithmetic?
You’ve seen the memes. You’ve seen the jokes. “3 + 4 x 2,” people say. “Is it 11 or 14?” And, to be fair, the confusion is not the fault of the person asking. It’s the fault of the system we’ve set up, the rules we’ve been handed down, which tell us that multiplication is somehow more important than addition. But is it? Is it really more important? Why do we let these arbitrary rules control how we solve basic problems? What happened to simply following what’s there, step by step, with no need to remember which operation has a higher “priority” than another?
And don’t get me wrong, I get it. I understand the value of rules. They bring structure, they bring consistency, they help us organize chaos. But this? This feels like a trap, like math itself is playing a game with us. The way we’re taught to follow a rigid, hierarchical structure just seems needlessly complicated. The question becomes: Why are we still following a system that everyone doesn’t naturally understand?
The Emotional Toll
Think about the people who struggle with math. How many people do you know who get anxious at the very thought of having to solve a simple equation? How many of them shudder at the idea of being asked, “Is this a BODMAS problem?” Those anxious faces you see when people try to figure out which operation to prioritize, those faces are telling you that the system we have now isn’t working. The more we add layers of complexity to something that could be simple, the more we alienate people. This could be your friend, your sister, your cousin, your child, or maybe even you. Every time someone has to pause, think, or second-guess themselves because of the rules in place, math is taking a little piece of their confidence. And we are complicit in that.
Imagine a world where we can just simplify it all. Instead of looking at a problem and having to say, “Okay, so multiplication has precedence over addition,” we can simply read it and solve it in the exact order that we read it. No need to second-guess. No need to memorize. No need for the constant back-and-forth between what is more important. A pure left-to-right approach would eliminate the fear, the hesitation, and the confusion.
The Case for a Simpler Future
Let’s be honest here: we live in a time where simplicity matters. We have tech that makes our lives easier, apps that give us answers in the blink of an eye, and a world that’s moving faster than ever. Why then are we still clinging to this archaic rule system in mathematics that only adds complexity? Why don’t we let our natural way of understanding things—left to right—guide us in math too?
Imagine how much easier it would be for someone learning arithmetic if they didn’t have to think about whether multiplication comes before addition or whether exponentiation should be handled first. Instead, they could just look at a problem and say, “I’ll do the first operation, then the next, then the next, and so on.” It sounds so much cleaner, so much simpler.
And then, consider the benefit of this shift for all of us. Imagine the conversations we would no longer need to have about math problems and their “correct” answers. We would no longer have to laugh (or cry) at the memes that poke fun at the confusion. We could all finally agree on a universal language of arithmetic that’s intuitive, consistent, and accessible to everyone.
The Future of Math is Left to Right
So, here’s the real question: Are we ready to ditch the old rules? Are we ready to adopt something so much simpler, something that aligns with how we actually think and learn?
It’s time to challenge the status quo. It’s time to make math human again. The left-to-right rule isn’t some abstract concept reserved for experts. It’s something that could change the way we all relate to numbers. It could make arithmetic something we don’t dread, but rather something we embrace and enjoy.
So, let’s do it. Let’s imagine a world where math doesn’t intimidate. A world where we set the rules, not some outdated system that we’ve blindly followed for centuries. It’s time to make math more accessible, more intuitive, and yes, more fun. It’s time to embrace the left-to-right rule.
