Can you solve 130 − 30 × 0 + 5 without using a calculator? This short arithmetic challenge is a good test of whether you remember the correct order of operations.
What is the correct answer?
The answer is 135.
Multiplication comes before addition and subtraction, so begin with 30 × 0 = 0. That changes the expression to 130 − 0 + 5. Working from left to right gives 130 + 5 = 135.
Why people get this math puzzle wrong
The tempting mistake is to subtract 30 from 130 before multiplying. But multiplication takes priority even when it appears later in the expression. Once you calculate the multiplication correctly, the rest is straightforward.
Try explaining the steps aloud to someone else. These quick mental-math questions are less about complicated numbers and more about paying attention to one rule: multiply first, then complete addition and subtraction from left to right.
