The challenge is to solve $50 + 50 – 25 \times 0 + 2 + 2$ — and do it without grabbing a calculator.
Why People Get It Wrong
Many incorrect answers come from reading the equation straight from left to right, as if it were a sentence. Calculating it that way can lead you to answers like $0$ or $4$, but math doesn’t work that way. There’s a specific set of rules that must be followed.
The Solution: Mastering PEMDAS/BODMAS
To get the correct result, you need to apply the order of operations. Depending on where you learned math, you might know this rule as PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction) or BODMAS.
The key point is that multiplication comes before addition and subtraction.
Step-by-Step Breakdown:
Identify the multiplication first. In the middle of the equation is $25 \times 0$. Any number multiplied by zero equals $0$.
The equation now becomes: $50 + 50 – 0 + 2 + 2$
Next, handle the addition and subtraction from left to right.
$50 + 50 = 100$
$100 – 0 = 100$
$100 + 2 = 102$
$102 + 2 = 104$