Which of the following interchanges of signs would make the given equation correct?
`5 + 6 div 3 - 12 xx 2 = 17`

Options

A. `div and xx`
B. `+ and xx`
C. `+ and div`
D. `+ and -`

Answer

To solve the equation `5 + 6 div 3 - 12 xx 2 = 17` by interchanging the signs, we will follow these steps:

### Step 1: Identify the original equation
The original equation is:
\[ 5 + 6 \div 3 - 12 \times 2 = 17 \]

### Step 2: Interchange the signs
We will interchange the division (div) and multiplication (xx) signs. The new equation becomes:
\[ 5 + 6 \times 3 - 12 \div 2 \]

### Step 3: Apply the BODMAS/BIDMAS rule
According to the BODMAS/BIDMAS rule, we solve the equation in the following order: Brackets, Orders (i.e., powers and roots, etc.), Division and Multiplication (from left to right), Addition and Subtraction (from left to right).

### Step 4: Solve the equation
1. First, perform the multiplication:
\[ 6 \times 3 = 18 \]
So the equation now looks like:
\[ 5 + 18 - 12 \div 2 \]

2. Next, perform the division:
\[ 12 \div 2 = 6 \]
Now the equation is:
\[ 5 + 18 - 6 \]

3. Now, perform the addition:
\[ 5 + 18 = 23 \]
So now we have:
\[ 23 - 6 \]

4. Finally, perform the subtraction:
\[ 23 - 6 = 17 \]

### Conclusion
The left side of the equation equals the right side:
\[ 17 = 17 \]
Thus, the interchanged equation is correct.