Welcome to today’s fun math puzzle challenge!
Simple math problems can sometimes trick our minds if we do not follow the basic rules.
Look closely at the handwritten equation in the picture: 10 + 8(4 – 2) = ?.
At first glance, it looks like a very basic math problem from school.
However, many people get confused about which operation to perform first.
Four multiple-choice options are given below the equation: a) 36, b) 38, c) 26, and d) 24.
To find the correct answer among these options, we must follow the standard order of operations, often known as PEMDAS or BODMAS.
This fundamental mathematical rule tells us the exact sequence to solve equations correctly.
PEMDAS stands for Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, and Addition and Subtraction.
Let’s break down the problem step by step using this rule.
Step 1: Solve inside the parentheses first.
Look at the expression inside the brackets: (4 – 2).
Subtracting 2 from 4 gives us 2.
Now, we can replace (4 – 2) with 2 in our original equation.
The equation now becomes 10 + 8(2).
Step 2: Perform the multiplication next.
In algebra, a number right next to parentheses means multiplication.
So, 8(2) simply means 8 multiplied by 2.
Calculating 8 x 2 gives us 16.
Now, substitute 16 back into the equation.
The equation simplifies to 10 + 16.
Step 3: Finish with addition.
Now, all we have left is a simple addition problem.
Add 10 and 16 together.
10 + 16 equals 26.
Why do some people get wrong answers like 36 or 38?
People who choose 36 usually add 10 and 8 first to get 18, and then multiply 18 by 2.
That is incorrect because multiplication must always be done before addition!
Therefore, following the logical order of operations leads us to the correct result.
The correct choice is c. 26.
