You’ve probably seen this challenge floating around the internet with captions like “90% fail this!” or “Only geniuses can solve it!” At first glance, it looks like simple math: a bunch of ones, some plus signs, a multiplication symbol, and an equals sign. But don’t let its simplicity fool you — this puzzle is meant to trick you.
The question is:
1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1
- 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1
- 1 + 1 × 0 + 1 = ?
Looks easy, right? But that tiny “× 0” in there changes everything.
Before you shout out your answer, take a moment. Let’s break it down together, step by step, and see where people often go wrong.
Why So Many People Miss the Right Answer
Most people get this question wrong because they forget about one of the most important rules in math: the order of operations. You might remember it from school as PEMDAS — which stands for Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division (from left to right), Addition and Subtraction (from left to right).
It’s easy to look at a string of 1s and start adding away, but that “× 0” isn’t just there for fun. If you don’t follow the correct math order, your final answer will be way off.
Common mistakes include:
- Adding everything straight across and ignoring multiplication
- Assuming multiplication comes after all the addition
- Thinking you can simply treat it as 13 ones and go from there
But let’s slow down and solve it the right way.
Step-by-Step Breakdown
To make things clear, let’s write the full equation in one line:
1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 × 0 + 1
Now pay close attention. According to the order of operations, multiplication must be done before any addition.
Video : 90% Fail to Answer This Correctly!
Let’s find the part of the equation that includes multiplication:
1 × 0 = 0
Now replace that part of the equation with 0:
1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 0 + 1
Now just count how many ones are left:
There are 12 ones and one zero. That gives us:
12 × 1 = 12
12 + 0 = 12
So the final answer is 12.
This Puzzle Is a Trick of the Mind
What makes this puzzle fun (and frustrating) is that it plays on how our brains naturally want to rush to the solution. We see a lot of addition, and our instinct is to just start adding. But that little multiplication symbol is the trap.
It’s not just a math problem — it’s a logic test. And it teaches an important lesson: slow down, think clearly, and follow the rules before jumping to conclusions.
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Conclusion: Think Before You Add
This math puzzle may seem like a quick challenge, but it’s really a test of attention and logic. The answer isn’t hard — if you remember to follow the rules. And just like in life, those little details can make all the difference.
So whether you nailed it or got fooled, take it as a win for your brain. And the next time you see a puzzle that looks “easy,” give it a second glance. You might just learn something new.
The final answer is 12 — but the real reward is learning how to see clearly when it counts.
