If A means, + B means -, C means × and D means, 54 D 6 C 4 B12 A5?

Appeared in: DSSSB - 28 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Explanation

The question requires substituting letters with mathematical operators and solving the resulting expression.
The expression is: 54 D 6 C 4 B 12 A 5.
Substituting the operators gives: 54 ÷ 6 × 4 - 12 + 5.
Following the BODMAS rule (Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction), we first perform division: 54 ÷ 6 = 9.
The expression becomes: 9 × 4 - 12 + 5.
Next, we perform multiplication: 9 × 4 = 36. The expression is now 36 - 12 + 5.

Option B: The value 64 is incorrect. It would be obtained by not following the correct order of operations (BODMAS) or through calculation errors.
Option C: The value 48 is incorrect. This result stems from miscalculation and ignoring the established sequence of mathematical operations.
Option D: The value 31 is incorrect. This answer likely arises from not adhering to the BODMAS rule, for example, by performing addition or subtraction out of the correct left-to-right sequence.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Mathematical Reasoning and Application of BODMAS as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While not a clinical question, this type of logical reasoning problem assesses analytical and problem-solving skills.
Nurses use critical thinking and sequential processing daily, for tasks like calculating drug dosages, interpreting lab results, and following complex care protocols.
What if? If the BODMAS rule was ignored and operations were performed strictly from left to right (54 ÷ 6 = 9; 9 × 4 = 36; 36 - 12 = 24; 24 + 5 = 29), the answer would still be 29 in this specific case. However, this is a coincidence, and for an expression like 10 + 5 * 2, this method would yield 30 instead of the correct 20.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the task: The question asks you to solve a mathematical expression where standard operators (+, -, ×, ÷) are replaced by letters.
Second, decode the symbols: Carefully create a key mapping each letter to its corresponding mathematical operation as defined in the question (A = +, B = -, C = ×, D = ÷).
Third, substitute and rewrite the expression: Replace each letter in the given sequence (54 D 6 C 4 B 12 A 5) with its decoded operator to form a standard mathematical equation.
Fourth, apply the order of operations (BODMAS/PEMDAS): Solve the rewritten equation (54 ÷ 6 × 4 - 12 + 5) by following the correct sequence: Division and Multiplication (from left to right), followed by Addition and Subtraction (from left to right).
Finally, perform the calculations step-by-step to arrive at the final result and select the matching option.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full DSSSB - 28 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.