50+50-25×0+2+2 Answer Explained: Step-by-Step PEMDAS/BODMAS Solution
Viral math problems and order-of-operations puzzles consistently trend across social media platforms like Facebook. By presenting long arithmetic expressions containing zeros and mixed operators, these brain teasers challenge viewers to refresh their mental math and logical reasoning skills.
A widely shared visual puzzle over a shredded cheese background sets the challenge:
“Please don’t use A calculator Use your brain: 50+50-25×0+2+2=”
While many casual solvers fall into the common trap of working sequentially from left to right, solving the equation correctly requires following the mathematical standard known as PEMDAS or BODMAS.
In this guide, we walk through the exact step-by-step calculation to show how to arrive at the correct answer.
The Order of Operations Rule (PEMDAS / BODMAS)
To solve any multi-operator math problem correctly, mathematicians around the world follow a standardized order of operations:
[ ORDER OF OPERATIONS ]
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[ STEP 1: MULTIPLICATION ] [ STEP 2: ADD & SUBTRACT ]
• Identify & perform (25 x 0) first • Work remaining terms left-to-right
• Result = 0 • 50 + 50 - 0 + 2 + 2 = 104
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P / B: Parentheses / Brackets (None present)
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E / O: Exponents / Orders (None present)
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MD / DM: Multiplication and Division (performed first from left to right)
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AS: Addition and Subtraction (performed second from left to right)
Step-by-Step Calculation Breakdown
Let’s evaluate the expression: $50 + 50 – 25 \times 0 + 2 + 2$
Step 1: Perform Multiplication First
In this equation, multiplication takes priority over addition and subtraction:
Rewriting the equation with this result yields:
Step 2: Addition and Subtraction from Left to Right
Now, execute the remaining operations sequentially from left to right:
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$50 + 50 = 100$
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$100 – 0 = 100$
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$100 + 2 = 102$
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$102 + 2 = 104$
Common Mistakes & Why Answers Differ
| Method | Calculation Method | Result | Accuracy |
| Standard PEMDAS / BODMAS | Perform $25 \times 0$ first, then add/subtract left-to-right | 104 | CORRECT |
| Sequential Left-to-Right | $(50+50-25) \times 0 + 2 + 2 = 75 \times 0 + 2 + 2$ | 4 | INCORRECT |
| Forgetting the Multiplication Rule | Multiplying everything by zero at the end | 0 | INCORRECT |
Conclusion
The correct mathematical answer to $50+50-25\times 0+2+2$ is 104. Whenever you see multiplication mixed into an addition and subtraction sequence, always remember to multiply first!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why isn’t the answer 4?
The answer would only be 4 if there were explicit parentheses around the first part of the expression: $(50 + 50 – 25) \times 0 + 2 + 2$. Without parentheses, multiplication must be evaluated first.
Why does multiplication take priority over addition?
The order of operations is a universally agreed-upon convention in mathematics to ensure that a given expression always yields one consistent result, regardless of who calculates it.
