This deceptively simple arithmetic puzzle asks you to solve 20 + 6 × 0 + 9 without reaching for a calculator. Can you do it in your head?
Try the Equation First
20 + 6 × 0 + 9 = ?
Many people rush through short number puzzles, but the multiplication sign is the detail to watch. You don’t simply calculate everything from left to right.
The Correct Answer Is 29
Following the order of operations, multiply before you add. First, 6 × 0 = 0. That turns the expression into 20 + 0 + 9, which equals 29.
Why the Puzzle Tricks People
Zero can make a calculation look confusing if you group the numbers in the wrong order. The trick is to remember that multiplication is completed first, even when it appears in the middle of the expression.
Did you get 29 on your first try? Share this little brain teaser with someone who enjoys a quick math challenge.
