This calculation seems very simple at first glance, but this is precisely where things often go wrong. The error lies not in the calculation itself, but in a mathematical rule that many people have forgotten. And chances are that you, too, are falling into this trap.
This calculation seems very simple at first glance. You would think you could solve it in a few seconds, even just by figuring out the problem. And yet, many people get the wrong answer. That is not because they don’t do calculations; on the contrary. The error almost always lies in a mathematical rule that many people have forgotten over time. And you will notice that your brain is probably playing tricks on you.
Why does this calculation fall into such a trap?
Here is the calculation:
50 + 50 − 25 × 0 + 2
Most people naturally start counting from left to right. That makes sense, because that is how we read it. Many people do it as follows:
