Math puzzles often look simple at first glance. They appear on social media all the time, and many people quickly answer without double-checking their work. This image shows a popular math challenge that can easily cause confusion. The handwritten note says, “Bet You’ll Get This Wrong!” and also gives a hint: “Answer is NOT 24!”
Let’s look closely at the equation in the picture: 8 + 8 ÷ 8 + 8 × 0. Why do some people think the answer is 0 or 24? Those who get 0 may calculate everything from left to right, eventually multiplying their running total by zero. Others simply notice the × 0 at the end and assume the entire expression must equal zero. But standard math rules tell us something different. To find the correct answer, we need to use the order of operations.
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