A short equation can spark a long conversation when it mixes addition with multiplication by zero. Here’s the challenge: 50 + 20 × 0 + 7 = ?
The numbers are simple enough to work out in your head, but the order in which you perform the operations makes all the difference. A common mistake is to begin with 50 + 20, then multiply the result by zero. That changes the meaning of the written expression.
What’s the correct answer?
Under the standard order of operations, multiplication comes before addition. First calculate 20 × 0 = 0. The equation becomes 50 + 0 + 7.
Answer: 57.
It’s an easy-looking problem that rewards careful reading. Did you solve it without a calculator, or did you have to check twice?
