Netizens are amused by a math correction, sparking discussions on educational principles and teacher marking habits.
SINGAPORE: A “mistake” found in a schoolboy’s workbook has left many Singaporeans both laughing and puzzling over the correction. The math problem 5 x 8 was marked incorrect, with the teacher’s correction being 8 x 5 as the right answer. While the post entertained many, it also sparked discussions as netizens tried to make sense of the correction.
“5 x 8 is wrong, because it’s 8 x 5,” read the caption accompanying a photo shared on an online news forum on Tuesday (May 9). The netizen shared the photo from their nephew’s workbook and humorously questioned the correction: “Found this ‘mistake’ on my nephew’s workbook. I get the lack of measurement units (kg), but what’s up with 8×5 and 5×8 being wrong?”
In the comments, many netizens found the situation amusing while also trying to figure out the logic behind it.
“Highly likely the teacher was marking in autopilot mode,” one user speculated. “Too many worksheets to go through, and sometimes it gets blurry. You just want to clear them quickly. If your nephew checks with the teacher, they may correct it. I wouldn’t judge it as inflexibility.”
The post creator agreed, saying, “Totally understandable, it’s just homework, so I don’t think it matters much. Just found it kinda funny and wanted to share.”
Some netizens, however, explained that the teacher’s correction was conceptually correct, particularly for Primary 3 (P3) students.
“The teacher is right for P3 concepts,” one comment read. “The correct order is 8 x 5kg = 40kg, because the units (for P3) should go on the right side. It makes a sensible mathematical sentence. You need 8 bags of 5 kg rice, not 5 kg for 8 bags.”
They continued, “Later, teachers will cover the properties of multiplication. But to keep things clear from the start, it’s important to teach the concept strictly so that students can better grasp it.”
This exchange not only provided some laughs but also highlighted the importance of understanding basic math principles from an early age.
