Two brackets, four steps and a result that may surprise you with its simplicity. But getting it right – that requires attention to every single step. Can you do it?

Time for a little break from the routine – but not the kind where your brain shuts down. Quite the opposite. Math equations work as a short but intense training for thinking: they force you to proceed precisely, hold more information in your head at once, and not give up just because the result isn’t visible at first glance. Psychologists point out that the biggest mistake in solving equations is not ignorance of the procedure, but overconfidence – people who think they have the example memorised are much more likely to make mistakes than those who write down each step carefully. And this is doubly true when the result looks simple.

What’s in store for you today?

In the picture you see the equation: 3(2x + 1) – 5 = 2(4x – 3) + 6. On each side of the equation, you’ll see one parenthesis with a coefficient and a free term outside of it. It’s a seemingly neat structure – but it’s the structure that leads you to jump to conclusions. The challenge is to find the value of x. Try it honestly yourself, step by step.

Calculate the example. ━━ Calculate the example. ( Source: Shutterstock )

The correct solution

How did it turn out? Were you able to figure out the correct result? Let’s take a look at it together.

The correct result is x = -1.

Expand the parentheses: 6x + 3 – 5 = 8x – 6 + 6. Simplify both sides: 6x – 2 = 8x. We convert the variables: -2 = 8x – 6x, so -2 = 2x. Result: x = -1. Getting to it requires that you add -6 + 6 = 0 correctly on the right-hand side, and don’t be fooled by the seemingly complicated parenthesis.

Share this equation with someone around you – it will be interesting to see if they expect a negative result at all, or reject it outright as an error. Regularly solving such problems has been shown to strengthen analytical thinking, improve concentration and keep the brain fit, regardless of age.

More equations, puzzles and IQ challenges await you on our website – come and test what else you can do.