Here’s a quick brain-teaser to sharpen your order-of-operations skills: A + A = 30, B + B = 20, C + C = 8—what does A + B × C equal? Before peeking at the solution, give it a shot and see if you remember to multiply before you add! Many solvers stumble by simply adding left to right, overlooking PEMDAS. Stick around for a step-by-step walkthrough that highlights common pitfalls and the correct sequence. Once you’ve done the math, comment with your answer and challenge a friend to see who spots the trick first!
Math time! What’s the answer?
Ever feel your heart race at the sight of a deceptively simple equation? Today’s brain teaser is exactly that—a straightforward-looking puzzle that trips up even seasoned problem-solvers. Can you resist the urge to jump straight to addition and instead apply the correct order of operations?
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Feeling stuck? Give these quick brain teasers a whirl and perk up your day!
Watch out for these common slip-ups
- Ignoring PEMDAS/BODMAS: Skipping multiplication in favor of left-to-right addition will lead you astray.
- Rushing: In the rush to “get it,” you might read A + B × C as (A + B) × C. Small reading mistakes cost big points!
Step-by-step solution
Solve for A, B, and C
- A + A = 30 ⟶ A = 15
- B + B = 20 ⟶ B = 10
- C + C = 8 ⟶ C = 4
Apply order of operations
The target expression is:
- A + B × C
Multiply before adding
- First compute B × C = 10 × 4 = 40
- Then add A: 15 + 40 = 55
And just like that, the answer is 55!
What did you get?
Drop your result in the comments and let us know how long it took you. If you found yourself tempted to add first, don’t worry—now you know exactly why multiplication comes next in line. Feeling hungry for more puzzles? Explore our other teasers to keep your logic sharp and your mind agile!
