Can You Solve This Viral Math Puzzle? (Most People Get It Wrong!)
The Secret: Order of Operations
To solve this correctly, you must follow the mathematical rule often referred to as PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction). In this order of operations, multiplication must be performed before any addition or subtraction.
The Step-by-Step Breakdown
Let’s look at the equation from the puzzle:
$$50 + 10 \times 0 + 7 + 2 = ?$$
- Do the Multiplication First: According to the rules, we ignore the addition for a moment and focus on the multiplication part of the equation: $10 \times 0 = 0$.
- Rewrite the Equation: Now, replace that part of the equation with the result:$$50 + 0 + 7 + 2 = ?$$
- Perform the Addition: Now that only addition remains, you can simply add the numbers from left to right:$$50 + 0 = 50$$$$50 + 7 = 57$$$$57 + 2 = 59$$
The Final Answer
The correct answer to the puzzle is 59.
Did you solve it correctly on your first try, or did you fall for the “left-to-right” trap? Share this with your friends and see who really paid attention in math class!
