A simple-looking math problem is challenging people to slow down and remember the correct order of operations:

90 − 10 ÷ 2 + 8 = ?

Many people may calculate from left to right immediately, but that approach would be incorrect because division must be completed before addition and subtraction.

Step 1: Do the division first

10 ÷ 2 = 5

The equation becomes:

90 − 5 + 8

Step 2: Calculate from left to right

Addition and subtraction have the same priority, so they are performed from left to right:

90 − 5 = 85

85 + 8 = 93

The Correct Answer Is 93

The key is to follow the standard order of operations, commonly remembered in the United States as PEMDAS:

Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction.

One important detail is often overlooked: multiplication and division share the same priority, just as addition and subtraction share the same priority. When operations have equal priority, calculate them from left to right.