There are two tricks to this one. The first is 1 × 0. But it’s mostly there as a distraction. Yes, 1 × 0 is 0, but that doesn’t affect anything else in the equation. The second, far trickier element is that the lines ending with 1 don’t have a + sign next to them. That means they should be combined with the following line.
My Ans=1
1+1+1+1+11+1+1+1+11+1 x 0+1
= 30 x 0 +1 = 1
For the 1×0 to effect the equation differently surely it needs to be in brackets e.g.
1+1+1+1+11+1+1+1+11+(1×0)+1
= 29+0+1=30
1+1+1+1+11+1+1+1+11+1x (0+1)
=30×1= 30
I may have missed a step but surely unless you alter the position of the “x 0” to the end of the equation then the answer can’t be 0 can it? I was educated in the UK a long time ago so perhaps that’s a problem ;>) GCHQ will know!
while evaluating mathematical expressions, the order of evaluation of mathematical operators is important else we will not get the correct result. And the order of operation is PEMDAS that is (Parenthesis, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction). According to this rule, multiplication should happen first in the given mathematical expression. So the result is:
Line 1: “1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1”
There is no equals here, there are no operators, and you cannot span a number across multiple lines without a hypen, which means it is not part of an equation. It is simply a bunch of numbers and operators and stands alone as an incomplete thought.
Line 2: “1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1”
See above for Line 1.
Line 3: “1 + 1 × 0 + 1 = ?”
Ah, now we have an equation. 1 + 1 X 0 +1, using order of operations, yields 1 + 0 + 1, or 2.
Allison and Ben, you guys need to go back to 6th grade math and learn order of operations.
I like how some people are actually arguing about the answer. The answer is 30. Doesn’t matter how many times you say otherwise, 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 11 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 11 + 1 × 0 + 1 = 30. Period. End of story. #itscalledmath
As Joe and also Jerry say, the answer is 2. There is no indication whatsoever that the lines should be combined together. The first two lines are in no way connected to the last line.
You present a linear equation but do not calculate in a linear fashion. You added parentheses that are not in the original equation. Without the parentheses, the answer is 1. With parentheses, the answer is 30. You can’t simply add parentheses that don’t exist in the original equation.
I agree with qbert, joe, jerry, and oliver. the answer is two, but no 11s. I swear my life there is no 11s in the origonal problem. you people are just following the wesite, to make others think your smart by taking the answer from other people and believing them. I still don’t see a reason to do that.
15 Comments on "A Seemingly Simple Math Problem"
Allison (mathematician) says
April 1, 2015 @ 22:45
Really were you people educated?
Okay here is a math lesson.
So the equation is…
1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 11 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 11 + 1 x 0 + 1 =
So let’s start with the bigger numbers. 11 + 11 = 22
Then plus 9
22 + 9 = 31
31 x 0 = 0
Come on!!!!!!!
ANYTHING times 0 is ALWAYS 0
If you did a trillion times 0 it would still be 0!!!!
Dan says
April 2, 2015 @ 15:22
@Allison What about the order of operations? Multiplication before addition.
Ciel Takuro Yuki says
July 8, 2015 @ 10:05
nice one, classy
Ben (Not a mathematician) says
February 18, 2016 @ 05:51
My Ans=1
1+1+1+1+11+1+1+1+11+1 x 0+1
= 30 x 0 +1 = 1
For the 1×0 to effect the equation differently surely it needs to be in brackets e.g.
1+1+1+1+11+1+1+1+11+(1×0)+1
= 29+0+1=30
1+1+1+1+11+1+1+1+11+1x (0+1)
=30×1= 30
I may have missed a step but surely unless you alter the position of the “x 0” to the end of the equation then the answer can’t be 0 can it? I was educated in the UK a long time ago so perhaps that’s a problem ;>) GCHQ will know!
Jayasmita says
June 7, 2016 @ 08:47
1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 11 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 11 + 1 x 0 + 1 =?
while evaluating mathematical expressions, the order of evaluation of mathematical operators is important else we will not get the correct result. And the order of operation is PEMDAS that is (Parenthesis, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction). According to this rule, multiplication should happen first in the given mathematical expression. So the result is:
1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 11 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 11 + 0 + 1 = 30
vignesh says
June 29, 2016 @ 12:46
Excellent keep it up!!!☺☺☺
Joe says
July 22, 2016 @ 13:45
The answer is 2. Let’s break it down.
Line 1: “1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1”
There is no equals here, there are no operators, and you cannot span a number across multiple lines without a hypen, which means it is not part of an equation. It is simply a bunch of numbers and operators and stands alone as an incomplete thought.
Line 2: “1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1”
See above for Line 1.
Line 3: “1 + 1 × 0 + 1 = ?”
Ah, now we have an equation. 1 + 1 X 0 +1, using order of operations, yields 1 + 0 + 1, or 2.
Allison and Ben, you guys need to go back to 6th grade math and learn order of operations.
Joe says
July 22, 2016 @ 14:05
The answer is 2. The first 2 lines are fragments.
John A says
September 7, 2016 @ 16:53
I like how some people are actually arguing about the answer. The answer is 30. Doesn’t matter how many times you say otherwise, 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 11 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 11 + 1 × 0 + 1 = 30. Period. End of story. #itscalledmath
JERRY says
December 9, 2017 @ 08:01
EACH LINE IS SEPERATE PROBLEM, SO LAST LINE ANSWER IS 2. MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Oliver S. Daniel says
November 6, 2018 @ 13:24
As Joe and also Jerry say, the answer is 2. There is no indication whatsoever that the lines should be combined together. The first two lines are in no way connected to the last line.
Bob says
October 5, 2020 @ 14:14
You present a linear equation but do not calculate in a linear fashion. You added parentheses that are not in the original equation. Without the parentheses, the answer is 1. With parentheses, the answer is 30. You can’t simply add parentheses that don’t exist in the original equation.
Kerin says
December 4, 2020 @ 22:52
If I am following PEMDAS…I have no parentheses, I have no exponents, I then have to mulitply 1 X 0. that leaves me 29 + 0 + 1 = 30
qbert says
May 24, 2021 @ 21:48
i swear i’m blind
but there are no 11s
the answer is 12
1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1*0+1+1 is what i see
haha says
October 10, 2021 @ 12:51
I agree with qbert, joe, jerry, and oliver. the answer is two, but no 11s. I swear my life there is no 11s in the origonal problem. you people are just following the wesite, to make others think your smart by taking the answer from other people and believing them. I still don’t see a reason to do that.
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