At first glance, this looks like one of those simple math problems you’d solve in seconds. But don’t rush — this is exactly the kind of puzzle that tricks people who go too fast.
Here’s the expression:
5 × 5 − 5 + 5 ÷ 5
Most people jump straight into solving it from left to right… and that’s where they go wrong.
⚠️ The Trick
This problem is not about difficult math — it’s about remembering the order of operations (PEMDAS):
- Parentheses
- Exponents
- Multiplication & Division (left to right)
- Addition & Subtraction (left to right)
🧠 Step-by-Step Solution
Now let’s break it down correctly:
Step 1: Multiplication & Division first
- 5 × 5 = 25
- 5 ÷ 5 = 1
Now the equation becomes:
25 − 5 + 1
Step 2: Addition & Subtraction (left to right)
- 25 − 5 = 20
- 20 + 1 = 21
✅ Final Answer:
👉 21 (Option C)
😮 Why People Get It Wrong
Many people ignore the order of operations and just go left to right:
5 × 5 = 25
25 − 5 = 20
20 + 5 = 25
25 ÷ 5 = 5 ❌
That leads to the wrong answer (5), which is actually option A — a classic trap.