This is a classic example of how the Order of Operations (often known as PEMDAS or BODMAS) can be a bit of a “brain teaser” if you try to read it strictly from left to right.
To solve this correctly, you have to follow the standard mathematical hierarchy: Multiplication must be done before Addition or Subtraction.
The Step-by-Step Breakdown:
The equation is:$50 + 50 – 25 \times 0 + 2 + 2 = ?$Multiplication First: Focus on the central part of the equation: $25 \times 0$. Any number multiplied by zero is $0$.New equation: $50 + 50 – 0 + 2 + 2$Addition and Subtraction (Left to Right): Now we just move across the line:$50 + 50 = 100$$100 – 0 = 100$$100 + 2 = 102$$102 + 2 = 104$
The Correct Answer is: 104Common Mistake: Most people get this wrong by calculating from left to right without following the order of operations. If you do that, you’d get $(100 – 25) \times 0$, which would result in $0 + 2 + 2$, giving you a false answer of 4.
