A simple arithmetic equation has sparked plenty of debate online. At first glance, it looks easy, but many people get confused about which operation to perform first. Take a look: 8 × 3 – 8 ÷ 8 = ? Do you already have an answer? Before checking the solution, try solving it yourself using the standard rules of mathematics.

The most common mistake is working through the equation from left to right without following the order of operations. The correct method is to calculate multiplication and division before subtraction. When multiplication and division appear together, they have equal priority, so you work from left to right within that group. This gives us 8 × 3 = 24 and 8 ÷ 8 = 1.

Now put those results back into the equation: 24 – 1 = 23. So the correct answer is 23, not 24! The rule is commonly remembered as PEMDAS or BODMAS, although multiplication and division share the same priority, just as addition and subtraction do.

And there’s a little mathematical joke hidden in the phrase “Answer is Not 24!” In mathematics, an exclamation mark can represent a factorial. That means 24! is 24 multiplied by every whole number below it down to 1, producing the enormous number 620,448,401,733,239,439,360,000. Of course, the exclamation mark in the graphic may simply be punctuation! 😄 Did you get 23 on your first attempt, or did this puzzle make you think twice? Share your answer and challenge your friends!