Can You Solve It Without a Calculator?

At first glance, the math problem on the board looks incredibly simple:

12 – 3 × 2 + 8

Many people rush to solve it from left to right and come up with the wrong answer. This puzzle is a great reminder that mathematics follows a specific order of operations.

Step 1: Multiply First

According to the order of operations, multiplication must be done before addition and subtraction.

So:

3 × 2 = 6

Now the expression becomes:

12 – 6 + 8

Step 2: Work from Left to Right

Since addition and subtraction have the same priority, solve them from left to right.

12 – 6 = 6

Then:

6 + 8 = 14

Final Answer

✅ 14

Why Do So Many People Get It Wrong?

A common mistake is to calculate from left to right immediately: