This simple-looking math puzzle has been confusing people online because it plays with how we interpret the wording. The question says: divide 100 by half and then add 20. Most people quickly think the answer is 70, but that’s not correct.
The key is understanding what “divide by half” actually means. Dividing by half is the same as multiplying by 2, because half is 0.5. So instead of doing 100 ÷ 2, you should calculate 100 ÷ 0.5.
When you do that, 100 divided by 0.5 equals 200. Then, you add 20 to that result.
200 + 20 = 220
The trick works because many people confuse “divide by half” with “divide by 2,” which leads them to the wrong answer. This puzzle is a great example of how wording can change everything, even in basic math.