The Viral Math Trap That’s Breaking the Internet….See More

The correct answer is -1.

Here’s the step-by-step explanation using the standard order of operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS):

Expression:

$$7-2(8-4)$$

Step 1: Solve the parentheses

$$8-4=4$$

Now the expression becomes:

$$7-2(4)$$

Step 2: Multiply

The number next to the parentheses means multiplication:

$$2(4)=2\times 4=8$$

Now you have:

$$7-8$$

Step 3: Subtract

$$7-8=-1$$

Final Answer:

−1\boxed{-1}−1​

Why do some people get 6?

A common mistake is treating the expression as:

$$(7-2)(8-4)$$

or subtracting first:

$$7-2=5,5\times 4=20$$

Neither is correct because multiplication must be performed before subtraction (after evaluating parentheses).

The correct order is:

1. Parentheses
2. Multiplication/Division (left to right)
3. Addition/Subtraction (left to right)

So:

7−2(8−4)=7−2×4=7−8=−17 – 2(8 – 4) = 7 – 2 \times 4 = 7 – 8 = \boxed{-1}7−2(8−4)=7−2×4=7−8=−1​

The image says “Answer is NOT SIX?”, and that’s true—the correct answer is −1\boxed{-1}−1​, not 6.