At first glance, this math puzzle looks so easy that almost anyone could solve it in seconds. It uses only the number six, along with a few familiar mathematical symbols. But there’s a reason puzzles like this spark so many disagreements online. People often arrive at completely different answers, even though everyone is looking at exactly the same equation.

Here’s the challenge: 6 + 6 ÷ 6 + 6 × 0 = ?

Some people confidently answer zero, believing that anything multiplied by zero makes the entire expression equal zero. Others arrive at twelve or another number after calculating the operations in a different order. But there’s a mathematical rule that determines exactly which steps must come first, regardless of how simple the equation appears.

Before reading the explanation, take another look at the expression and decide on your answer. The secret isn’t hidden in the numbers themselves — it’s in the order you calculate them.