This deceptively simple equation is a reminder that the order of operations matters. Before you subtract or add, perform the multiplication.
The equation
70 − 20 × 0 + 3 = ?
Step-by-step answer
First, 20 × 0 = 0. The expression becomes 70 − 0 + 3. Work from left to right to get 73.
The common mistake is calculating 70 − 20 first, but multiplication comes before addition and subtraction.


