Brain teasers and viral math puzzles regularly flood social media feeds, leaving thousands of commenters fiercely debating the correct answer. While many of these problems appear deceptively simple at first glance, they are specifically designed to trick our instincts by testing basic mathematical principles, attention to detail, and order of operations.

In the viral math riddle shown above, people are asked to solve a single arithmetic expression: 6 + 6 + 6 × 6 × 0 = ?

While many quickly jump to conclusions and guess 0 or 0 or 12, evaluating the expression step-by-step using standard mathematical rules reveals why so many people get tripped up—and what the true answer really is.

Step-by-Step Math Breakdown

To solve any mathematical expression with multiple operations, you must follow the standard order of operations, often remembered by the acronym PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction) or BODMAS (Brackets, Orders, Division and Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction).

Here is the expression: 6 + 6 + 6 × 6 × 0

1. Perform Multiplication First

According to order of operations rules, multiplication takes precedence over addition. We must evaluate the multiplication part of the expression first:

• 6 × 6 = 36

• 36 × 0 = 0

So, the multiplication segment 6 × 6 × 0 simplifies completely to 0.

2. Perform Addition Next

Now, substitute 0 back into the original expression in place of the multiplication terms:

• 6 + 6 + 0

Finally, add the remaining numbers from left to right:

• 6 + 6 = 12

• 12 + 0 = 12

The Final Answer

The correct answer to the equation is 12.

Common Mistakes People Make

Why do so many people comment with incorrect answers like 0 on posts like this?

• Evaluating Left to Right (Ignoring PEMDAS): People often calculate sequentially from left to right as if reading a sentence:

  • 6 + 6 = 12

  • 12 + 6 = 18

  • 18 × 6 = 108

  • 108 × 0 = 0 (Incorrect)

• Assuming Anything Times Zero Equals Zero: While it is true that any number multiplied by zero equals zero, that zero only eliminates the numbers that are directly attached to it by multiplication symbols. It does not erase the addition terms at the front of the expression.

Why Brain Teasers Are Great for Cognitive Health

Engaging with math riddles and logic puzzles is more than just a fun social media distraction. Regularly exercising your brain with problem-solving tasks offers key cognitive benefits:

• Sharpens Attention to Detail: Forces you to slow down and analyze rules rather than acting on immediate impulse.

• Enhances Working Memory: Keeps fundamental mathematical concepts fresh and active.

• Promotes Critical Thinking: Encourages independent reasoning rather than relying on quick digital shortcuts or calculators.

Conclusion

The next time you spot a “simple” math problem on your feed, remember to take a breath, recall your elementary school math rules, and apply PEMDAS/BODMAS before rushing to the comment section.