“Answer is NOT SIX?” At first glance, it looks like middle-school algebra. Yet, comment sections under posts like this inevitably devolve into chaotic debates. Some confidently declare the answer is 20. Others insist it’s -1. And a loud contingent is absolutely certain the answer is, indeed, 6.

So, who is right, why is the image telling us the answer isn’t six, and what is the actual mathematical truth? Let’s break it down.To solve 7 – 2(8 – 4) correctly, we must follow the standard order of operations, often remembered by the acronyms PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction) or BODMAS (Brackets, Orders, Division/Multiplication, Addition/Subtraction).Here is how the math actually works:

Step 1: Address the Parentheses (Brackets)First, we calculate the expression inside the parentheses:$$8 – 4 = 4$$Now, substitute that back into the equation:7 – 2(4)
Step 2: MultiplicationThe notation 2(4) is a shorthand way of writing 2 \times 4. According to the order of operations, multiplication must be performed before subtraction.2 \times 4 =

Our equation now becomes:7 – 8
Step 3: SubtractionFinally, we perform the subtraction:7 – 8 = -1
The mathematically correct answer is -1.