Have you ever come across a simple math problem on social media that makes everyone argue in the comments section?
It looks extremely easy at first glance.
Yet, thousands of people still get the wrong answer.
Today, let us look at a classic brain teaser that tests your basic math skills.
Take a close look at the equation written on the paper: 10 x 4 + 7 x 0 + 3 = ?
At first look, your eyes might instantly focus on that big zero in the middle.
It is very tempting to think that multiplying by zero turns the whole problem into zero.
Many people quickly jump to conclusions and shout out wrong answers like “0” or “3”.
However, mathematics has strict rules that we must always follow to get the correct result.
To solve this puzzle without making a mistake, we need to remember a fundamental rule from school.
This rule is called the Order of Operations, often known as PEMDAS or BODMAS.
This rule tells us exactly which calculation to perform first, second, and last.
According to the Order of Operations, multiplication must always be done before addition.
Let us break down the equation step by step together.
First, identify all the multiplication parts in the equation.
We have two separate multiplication expressions here: 10 x 4 and 7 x 0.
Let us calculate the first multiplication part: 10 x 4.
Ten multiplied by four equals 40.
Now, let us calculate the second multiplication part: 7 x 0.
Any number multiplied by zero always equals 0.
So, seven multiplied by zero is simply 0.
Now that all multiplication is finished, we can rewrite the entire equation with these new numbers.
The original equation now becomes: 40 + 0 + 3.
At this stage, all we have left is simple addition from left to right.
First, add forty and zero together: 40 + 0 = 40.
Finally, add the last number three to forty: 40 + 3 = 43.
And there you have it!
The correct and logical answer to this math puzzle is 43.
It is amazing how a small rule like doing multiplication before addition can completely change the outcome.
Math is not about guessing or moving fast; it is about following logical rules step by step.
Did you manage to get the correct answer on your first try without using a calculator?
Share this fun puzzle with your friends and family to test their math logic today!