If ‘A’ stands for ‘÷’, ‘B’ stands for ‘×’, ‘C’ stands for ‘+’ and ‘D’ stands…
2025
If ‘A’ stands for ‘÷’, ‘B’ stands for ‘×’, ‘C’ stands for ‘+’ and ‘D’ stands for ‘−’, then the resultant of which of the following would be 33?
- A.
9 B 4 D 72 A 9 C 5
- B.
9 C 4 A 72 D 9 B 5
- C.
9 A 4 C 72 B 9 D 5
- D.
9 D 4 A 72 C 9 B 5
Attempted by 2 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
CONCEPT: In an expression built from multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction, the order of operations (BODMAS) requires every multiplication and division to be carried out first, in the order they occur, before any addition or subtraction is applied to the reduced terms, left to right.
APPLICATION: Using the given key (A = ÷, B = ×, C = +, D = −), decode ‘9 B 4 D 72 A 9 C 5’ and evaluate it step by step.
Replace each letter with its symbol: 9 B 4 D 72 A 9 C 5 becomes 9 × 4 − 72 ÷ 9 + 5.
Carry out the multiplication first: 9 × 4 = 36.
Carry out the division next: 72 ÷ 9 = 8.
Substitute the reduced terms back into the expression: 36 − 8 + 5.
Apply the remaining subtraction and addition left to right: 36 − 8 = 28, then 28 + 5 = 33.
CROSS-CHECK: Once the multiplication and division are reduced, the remaining terms can be treated as signed values (+36, −8, +5) and added in any order without changing the total, since it is the sign attached to each term — not the order of the operations — that must be preserved. Reordering these signed terms as +36 + 5 − 8 gives 41 − 8 = 33 — an independent route that reproduces the same value and confirms the working.
Both routes give 33, which is the resultant asked for in the question, so this arrangement is the one that satisfies the condition.