At first glance, this math puzzle appears incredibly simple, yet it has managed to confuse thousands of people online. The equation is: **50 + 50 − 25 × 0 + 2 + 2 = ?** Because it looks straightforward, many people instinctively solve it from left to right and end up feeling certain their answer is correct.
The mistake comes from overlooking the order of operations. A left-to-right approach leads to 50 + 50 = 100, then 100 − 25 = 75, followed by 75 × 0 = 0, and finally 0 + 2 + 2 = 4. While this process may seem reasonable at first, it does not follow the mathematical rules used to evaluate equations.
To solve the expression correctly, you must apply the order of operations, commonly known as PEMDAS or BODMAS. Multiplication takes priority over addition and subtraction, so the first calculation is 25 × 0 = 0. After replacing that part of the equation, it becomes 50 + 50 − 0 + 2 + 2, which can then be solved from left to right.
Working through the remaining steps gives 50 + 50 = 100, 100 − 0 = 100, 100 + 2 = 102, and 102 + 2 = 104. The correct answer is **104**, not **4**. This puzzle is a perfect example of how even the simplest-looking equations can produce the wrong result if the order of operations is ignored.
