If $ means ‘divided by’; @ means ‘multiplied by’; # means ‘minus’, then the value of 10#5@1$5 is

Answer: (d) 9

Decoded, the expression is 10 − 5 × 1 ÷ 5. Multiplication and division come before subtraction, so 5 × 1 ÷ 5 = 1 and the value is 10 − 1 = 9.

1. 10#5@1$5 = 10 − 5 × 1 ÷ 5.
2. 5 × 1 = 5, then 5 ÷ 5 = 1.
3. 10 − 1 = 9.
4. Check: working strictly left to right would give (10 − 5) × 1 ÷ 5 = 1, which ignores BODMAS.

Remember · After decoding the symbols, apply BODMAS strictly: division and multiplication before subtraction.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2019, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). · Report an error