Can You Solve This Viral Math Puzzle? (Hint: It’s Not as Simple as It Looks)
50 + 50 − 25 × 0 + 2 + 2 = ?
Most people get it wrong. Do you?
A simple-looking math problem is making the rounds online, sparking more debate than you’d expect. At first glance, it looks like elementary school arithmetic. But don’t be fooled—this puzzle is designed to trip up your brain’s natural shortcuts.
So what’s the answer?
Before you scroll down, try solving it in your head.
Many people are confident they know the solution immediately. Others argue passionately in the comments section. Surprisingly, a large number of adults arrive at the wrong answer—not because the math is difficult, but because they forget one important rule.
🚫 The Common Mistake: The Left-to-Right Trap
The biggest trap is treating the equation like a sentence and calculating strictly from left to right.
When people rush, they often do this:
50 + 50 = 100
100 − 25 = 75
75 × 0 = 0
0 + 2 = 2
2 + 2 = 4
Result: 4 ❌
This feels intuitive, but it violates a foundational rule of arithmetic. That’s exactly why puzzles like this spread so quickly across social media—they look simple enough to fool almost anyone.
📐 The Rule That Changes Everything
To solve the problem correctly, you must follow the Order of Operations, commonly remembered as PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction) or BODMAS (Brackets, Orders, Division/Multiplication, Addition/Subtraction).
The key rule here is simple:
Multiplication and division are completed before addition and subtraction.
Addition and subtraction share the same priority level, so once multiplication is done, you work left to right.
Let’s break it down.
✅ Step-by-Step Solution
Step 1: Solve the Multiplication First
The expression contains:
25 × 0
Anything multiplied by zero equals zero.
So the equation becomes:
50 + 50 − 0 + 2 + 2
Step 2: Complete the Remaining Operations (Left to Right)
Now solve the additions and subtractions in order:
50 + 50 = 100
100 − 0 = 100
100 + 2 = 102
102 + 2 = 104
