At first glance, this math puzzle looks incredibly simple, but thousands of people get it wrong because they solve it from left to right instead of following the correct order of operations.
The expression is:
7 + 7 ÷ 7 – 7
The key is remembering that division comes before addition and subtraction.
Step 1:
7 ÷ 7 = 1
Now the equation becomes:
7 + 1 – 7
Step 2:
7 + 1 = 8
Step 3:
8 – 7 = 1
Final Answer: 1
Puzzles like this are popular because they test whether you remember the order of operations rather than your arithmetic skills. The standard rule is to perform parentheses first (if any), then exponents, followed by multiplication and division from left to right, and finally addition and subtraction from left to right.
Did you get the correct answer on your first try, or did the order of operations catch you out?
