At first glance, this math puzzle looks incredibly simple—but it’s tricking thousands of people online. The challenge is: 50 + 50 − 25 × 0 + 2 + 2 = ? Many people rush to solve it from left to right and confidently end up with the wrong answer.

The most common mistake is ignoring the order of operations. Solving it step by step from left to right gives 50 + 50 = 100, then 100 − 25 = 75, 75 × 0 = 0, and finally 0 + 2 + 2 = 4. It seems logical, but that’s not how mathematical equations are meant to be solved.

The correct method is to follow the order of operations, often remembered as PEMDAS or BODMAS. Multiplication must always be completed before addition and subtraction. In this equation, 25 × 0 = 0, so the expression becomes 50 + 50 − 0 + 2 + 2. Once the multiplication is finished, you simply work from left to right.

Adding everything together gives 50 + 50 = 100, 100 − 0 = 100, 100 + 2 = 102, and 102 + 2 = 104. That means the correct answer is 104, not 4. It’s a great reminder that even the simplest-looking puzzles can catch you out if you forget the basic rules of math.