The seemingly simple math problem involving basic operations like addition, subtraction, and division has been leaving people scratching their heads.

The problem in question is: 9 – 9 ÷ 9 + 9 – 9 ÷ 9. Many people have attempted to solve it, but surprisingly, not everyone arrives at the correct answer.

This calculation was initially shared by The Epoch Times back in 2020, sparking debates and confusion. So, what is the correct answer?

Let’s break it down step-by-step:

First, according to the order of operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS), we need to handle division before tackling subtraction or addition.

Step 1: 9 – 9 ÷ 9 + 9 – 9 ÷ 9
Step 2: 9 – 1 + 9 – 1 (since 9 ÷ 9 = 1)
Step 3: 8 + 9 – 1
Step 4: 17 – 1

The correct answer is: 16.

Despite the simplicity, the need to follow the correct order of operations trips many people up, leading them to wrong answers.