Are you ready to challenge your brain with a math problem that looks easy but often trips people up? This question tests your understanding of the order of operations—a fundamental skill many of us learned early in school but sometimes forget.
The problem is:
What is the result of 11 – 11 × 11 + 11?
At first glance, it seems straightforward—just addition, subtraction, and multiplication. But solving it correctly requires careful attention to the sequence of operations. Remember: Multiplication comes before addition and subtraction (PEMDAS/BODMAS rules).
Why Do So Many People Get It Wrong?
Most people rush through the problem left to right, ignoring the order of operations. They might calculate it like this:
- 11 – 11 = 0
- 0 × 11 = 0
- 0 + 11 = 11
But that’s incorrect because multiplication must be done first.
The Correct Way to Solve It
Follow the order of operations (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction):
- Multiplication first: 11 × 11 = 121
- Now the equation is: 11 – 121 + 11
- Subtraction and addition (left to right):
- 11 – 121 = -110
- -110 + 11 = -99
The Answer
The correct result is -99.
The Lesson
This problem is a great reminder that math isn’t just about numbers—it’s about rules. The order of operations ensures consistency, and overlooking it can lead to wrong answers, even on simple problems.
Did you get it right? Or did it stump you? Share your answer in the comments!
