The CEO’s brain teaser stumped job candidates on social media, quickly went viral, and sparked discussion – Can you solve it?
A puzzling interview question
A CEO’s brain teaser shared on Reddit has left people scratching their heads – and some outright fuming.
Dino Dionne, CEO and president of Genesis Capital Group, an investment management firm, posed a quick math challenge to his job candidates. He claims they have just three seconds to answer correctly.
Dionne recently shared his interview tactic on LinkedIn, writing:
“I give this test to everyone I interview. If you want the job, you have three seconds to answer.”
The equation? : 3 x 3 – 3 ÷ 3 + 3
Many shared mixed reactions and answers on social media.
The problem quickly spread online, creating confusion and debate over the “correct” answer. Responses varied widely across Reddit and other platforms.
One user wrote: The answer is 5 if you go straight across without brackets.
A second wrote: It is 11, right? Because the article keeps bringing up “1” but I get 11 and I need to know.
While a third commented: 3*3-3/3+3= ? People will get different answers depending on if they add or subtract first. If you follow PEMDAS then it’s 5 but if you use PEDMSA then it’s 11.
Another replied: But if you apply PEMDAS [Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction], the answer is 11.
Someone else said: It’s 11. If you figure that out, you’re not a genius. It’s simple.
Another added: Th The expression 3 times 3 – 3 div 3 + 3 simplifies as follows:
1. Perform multiplication and division from left to right:
3 \times 3 = 9
3 \div 3 = 1
2. Substitute these values into the expression:
9 – 1 + 3
3. Perform addition and subtraction from left to right:
9 – 1 = 8
8 + 3 = 11
So, the answer is 11 .
In the comment selection, many users voiced their frustration at the CEO’s approach to gauging intelligence through a timed math test. One commenter wrote, “The correct answer is to end the interview and find a boss who isn’t a tool.”
Another pointed out, “My six-year-old can solve this in 30 seconds,” mocking the CEO’s own reference to his child’s solution time. One commenter humorously added, “This guy is why brackets were invented.”
Here’s how the equation breaks down with different methods:
1. Following PEMDAS:
– First, solve multiplication and division from left to right:
( 3 times 3 = 9 ) and ( 3 div 3 = 1 ).
– Then proceed with addition and subtraction:
( 9 – 1 + 3 = 11 ).
Answer: 11
2. Straight Across:
– Proceeding left to right without prioritizing operations:
( 3 times 3 = 9 ), ( 9 – 3 = 6 ), ( 6 div 3 = 2 ), and ( 2 + 3 = 5 ).
Answer: 5
Whether you got 5, 11, or another answer, this brain teaser raises an interesting question about hiring practices. Does solving a timed math problem really determine job readiness? The debate continues online – what answer did you get?