Math puzzles often appear deceptively simple, yet they can easily confuse people who rush to find the answer. These challenges frequently circulate on social media, where many participants confidently share their solutions without carefully checking the calculations. This particular puzzle has become a popular brain teaser, with a handwritten note boldly stating, “Bet You’ll Get This Wrong!” It also includes a useful clue: “Answer is NOT 24!” The equation presented is 8 + 8 ÷ 8 + 8 × 0.
At first glance, some people believe the answer is 0, while others come up with 24. Those who arrive at 0 may be performing the calculations from left to right without considering the proper mathematical rules. They begin by adding 8 + 8 to get 16, then divide by 8 to obtain 2. After adding another 8, they reach 10, which they finally multiply by 0 to get 0. Others assume that the multiplication by zero at the end automatically makes the entire expression equal to zero. However, both approaches overlook the importance of the standard order of operations.
To solve the puzzle correctly, we must follow the mathematical rule known as PEMDAS or BODMAS. This principle determines the order in which different operations should be completed. Parentheses and exponents are handled first, followed by multiplication and division from left to right. Addition and subtraction come afterward, also proceeding from left to right. In our equation, 8 + 8 ÷ 8 + 8 × 0, division and multiplication must be completed before addition. First, 8 ÷ 8 equals 1 because any nonzero number divided by itself is 1. Next, 8 × 0 equals 0, since multiplying any number by zero always produces zero.
After completing these two operations, the original equation becomes 8 + 1 + 0. Now, only addition remains, making the final calculation straightforward. We add 8 and 1 to get 9, then add 0, which leaves the result unchanged. Therefore, the correct answer to this tricky math challenge is 9. By applying the standard order of operations instead of rushing through the equation, the solution becomes clear. The next time you encounter a similar puzzle online, take a moment to think carefully before choosing your answer!
