Before solving anything, you need to remember how math operations are prioritized. This is called PEMDAS:
- Parentheses
- Exponents
- Multiplication and Division (from left to right)
- Addition and Subtraction (from left to right)
The most important part here is:
👉 Multiplication must be done before addition or subtraction.
Step 2: Identify the multiplication
Looking at the expression:
110 – 10 × 10 + 10
We can clearly see there is a multiplication:
10 × 10
According to the rules, we must solve this first before doing anything else.
Step 3: Solve the multiplication
10 × 10 = 100
Now replace that part in the original expression:
110 – 100 + 10
Step 4: Continue from left to right
Now that the multiplication is done, we move to addition and subtraction.
We always go from left to right at this stage.
First:
110 – 100 = 10
Then:
10 + 10 = 20
Final Answer:
20
Why people get confused
Some people try to solve it like this:
110 – 10 = 100
100 × 10 = 1000
1000 + 10 = 1010
This is incorrect because it ignores the order of operations. Math is not just about doing things in sequence—it’s about doing them in the correct order.
Final Thought
This problem is a great example of how a simple-looking equation can trick people who rush. If you slow down and follow the rules, the correct answer becomes clear.
The correct answer is 20.