Can You Solve 60 + 60 × 0 + 1? A Simple Math Challenge With an Important Lesson

Some math problems look challenging before you even begin. They contain fractions, unfamiliar symbols, or long equations that make you reach for a calculator. Other problems seem so simple that you answer almost automatically.

The expression 60 + 60 × 0 + 1 belongs to the second group.

At first glance, there is nothing intimidating about it. The numbers are familiar, the operations are basic, and there are no complicated formulas to remember. Yet this short arithmetic challenge can produce different answers when people approach it in different ways.

The key is knowing which operation to perform first. Before you read the explanation, take a moment to solve the expression yourself:

60 + 60 × 0 + 1 = ?

Keep your first answer in mind. Below, we will work through the calculation, explain the tempting mistake, and explore a few related examples that make the rule easier to remember.

What Is the Correct Answer?

The correct answer is 61.

To solve the expression, perform the multiplication before the additions:

60 × 0 = 0

Then substitute that result into the original expression:

60 + 0 + 1 = 61

That is the complete calculation. The zero belongs to the multiplication term 60 × 0. It does not cancel every number in the expression.

If you got 61 on your first attempt, you applied the order of operations correctly. If you got 1, you probably completed the operations from left to right without giving multiplication priority.

That second approach is understandable, but it changes the calculation.

Why Multiplication Comes Before Addition

Arithmetic uses a standard order of operations so that an expression has a consistent meaning.

Without shared rules, one person might add first, another might multiply first, and both could claim to have followed a reasonable method. The order of operations gives everyone the same instructions.

For expressions involving basic arithmetic, the usual sequence is:

1. Calculate anything inside parentheses or other grouping symbols.
2. Evaluate exponents.
3. Perform multiplication and division, moving from left to right.
4. Perform addition and subtraction, moving from left to right.

In 60 + 60 × 0 + 1, there are no parentheses and no exponents. Multiplication therefore comes first.

After calculating 60 × 0, only addition remains. At that point, you can add the remaining numbers from left to right.

The important distinction is that “work from left to right” applies within the same level of priority. It does not mean that every operation in an expression has equal priority.

The Common Mistake That Produces 1

One tempting approach is to begin with the first two numbers:

60 + 60 = 120

Then multiply by zero:

120 × 0 = 0

Finally, add one:

0 + 1 = 1

Each individual calculation is correct. The problem is the order in which those calculations were performed.

Adding the first two numbers before multiplying effectively changes the original expression into this:

(60 + 60) × 0 + 1

Those parentheses matter. They tell you to complete the addition before multiplication.

The original challenge does not contain those parentheses, so it does not instruct you to combine the first two numbers first.

This is a useful reminder: a wrong final answer does not always come from an incorrect multiplication fact or addition fact. Sometimes, the mistake comes from correctly performing operations in the wrong sequence.

What Multiplying by Zero Actually Means

Zero attracts attention in arithmetic puzzles because multiplication by zero has such a clear result:

Any number multiplied by zero equals zero.

For example:

• 8 × 0 = 0
• 60 × 0 = 0
• 4,000 × 0 = 0

However, that rule applies to the quantity being multiplied by zero. It does not automatically apply to an entire expression containing other terms.

Consider:

12 + 5 × 0

Only 5 is multiplied by zero. The expression becomes:

12 + 0 = 12

Now compare it with:

(12 + 5) × 0

Here, the parentheses group the addition into one quantity. That whole quantity is multiplied by zero:

17 × 0 = 0

Both expressions contain the same numbers and operation symbols, but the grouping changes what the zero affects.

A Clear Way to Read the Original Expression

Instead of seeing the challenge as a continuous line of numbers, try separating it into terms.

The expression is:

60 + 60 × 0 + 1

Its three terms are:

• 60
• 60 × 0
• 1

The multiplication happens inside the middle term. Once you evaluate that term, you have:

60 + 0 + 1

This way of reading the expression makes the structure easier to recognize. You are adding three quantities together, and one of those quantities must first be calculated through multiplication.

You can also write an equivalent version with clarifying parentheses:

60 + (60 × 0) + 1

These parentheses do not change the meaning. They simply make the existing multiplication priority more visible.

That is different from placing parentheses around 60 + 60, which would change the meaning.

Understanding PEMDAS and BODMAS

Many people learn the order of operations through a memory aid such as PEMDAS or BODMAS.

PEMDAS commonly stands for:

• Parentheses
• Exponents
• Multiplication and Division
• Addition and Subtraction

BODMAS commonly stands for:

• Brackets
• Orders
• Division and Multiplication
• Addition and Subtraction

The wording differs, but both describe the same basic priority structure.

There is one important detail: multiplication and division share a level. Addition and subtraction also share a level.

PEMDAS does not mean that multiplication always comes before division. Similarly, BODMAS does not mean that division always comes before multiplication.

When multiplication and division appear together without grouping symbols, work from left to right. Do the same when addition and subtraction appear together.

For the original challenge, the distinction is straightforward: multiplication has priority over addition, so 60 × 0 must be evaluated first.

Does Working From Left to Right Ever Apply?

Yes. Working from left to right is an essential part of arithmetic, but you must use it at the appropriate priority level.

Consider:

18 − 7 + 2

Addition and subtraction have equal priority, so calculate from left to right:

18 − 7 = 11

Then:

11 + 2 = 13

Now consider:

24 ÷ 6 × 2

Division and multiplication have equal priority:

24 ÷ 6 = 4

Then:

4 × 2 = 8

The original expression combines operations from different priority levels. You cannot begin with the first addition merely because it appears on the left.

First, identify which operations have priority. Then use left-to-right processing among operations at the same level.

How Parentheses Can Change the Answer

A helpful way to understand the challenge is to compare several versions.

Version One: The Original Expression

60 + 60 × 0 + 1

Multiply first:

60 + 0 + 1 = 61

Version Two: Addition Grouped First

(60 + 60) × 0 + 1

Complete the parentheses:

120 × 0 + 1

Then multiply and add:

0 + 1 = 1

Version Three: Zero and One Grouped Together

60 + 60 × (0 + 1)

Complete the parentheses:

60 + 60 × 1

Then multiply:

60 + 60 = 120

The numbers stay the same, but the grouping produces three different answers: 61, 1, and 120.

This comparison shows why punctuation in mathematics deserves the same attention as the numbers themselves.

Why This Challenge Can Feel More Difficult Than It Is

The arithmetic is easy. Recognizing the structure requires a little more attention.

When you see two identical numbers at the beginning of an expression, adding them may feel natural. In this case, 60 + 60 is an obvious and familiar calculation.

The multiplication by zero can also encourage a quick conclusion. You may remember that multiplying by zero produces zero, then apply that fact too broadly.

Neither reaction means that the problem requires advanced mathematics. It means that a short expression can invite an automatic response.

A useful habit is to pause before calculating and ask:

“Which operation should I perform first?”

That question directs your attention toward the structure of the expression before you become committed to an answer.

A Reliable Method for Similar Problems

You can approach many short arithmetic challenges with the same simple routine.

Step One: Read the Entire Expression

Look at every number and symbol before beginning. Notice parentheses, exponents, multiplication, and division.

Step Two: Identify the Highest-Priority Operation

For 60 + 60 × 0 + 1, that operation is multiplication.

Step Three: Calculate Only That Part

Evaluate:

60 × 0 = 0

Leave the other numbers unchanged.

Step Four: Rewrite the Expression

You now have:

60 + 0 + 1

Rewriting helps prevent you from accidentally using a number twice or skipping a term.

Step Five: Complete the Remaining Operations

Add:

60 + 0 + 1 = 61

This method takes only a few seconds, but it makes each stage easy to check.

Practice With Five Similar Math Challenges

Try these examples before reading the solutions.

Challenge One: 25 + 25 × 0 + 4

Multiply first:

25 × 0 = 0

Then add:

25 + 0 + 4 = 29

Answer: 29

Challenge Two: 40 + 6 × 2

Complete the multiplication:

6 × 2 = 12

Then add:

40 + 12 = 52

Answer: 52

Challenge Three: (40 + 6) × 2

The parentheses come first:

40 + 6 = 46

Then multiply:

46 × 2 = 92

Answer: 92

Challenge Four: 90 − 10 × 0 + 3

Multiply:

10 × 0 = 0

Then complete subtraction and addition from left to right:

90 − 0 + 3 = 93

Answer: 93

Challenge Five: 8 × 0 + 12 ÷ 3

Evaluate multiplication and division before addition:

8 × 0 = 0

12 ÷ 3 = 4

Then add:

0 + 4 = 4

Answer: 4

The same priority rules work in every example.

How to Explain the Answer to Someone Else

If someone disagrees with your answer, a clear explanation is more helpful than simply telling them to remember PEMDAS.

Start by identifying the multiplication term:

60 × 0

Explain that this term equals zero. Then show the resulting expression:

60 + 0 + 1

Finally, add the remaining numbers to get 61.

If the person got 1, show the expression that matches their calculation:

(60 + 60) × 0 + 1

This comparison makes the disagreement easier to understand. The two answers come from two different interpretations of the grouping, but only one matches the expression as written.

There is no need to turn a small arithmetic mistake into a judgment about someone’s intelligence. The useful goal is understanding the rule and applying it consistently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Answer 61 or 1?

The answer is 61 for the expression 60 + 60 × 0 + 1. An answer of 1 would fit (60 + 60) × 0 + 1, which is a different expression.

Does the Zero Cancel Both Numbers?

No. It makes the product 60 × 0 equal zero. The first 60 and the final 1 remain part of the addition.

Should You Always Calculate From Left to Right?

You should work from left to right among operations with equal priority. First, however, follow the order of operations.

Do You Need a Calculator?

No. The calculation requires only multiplication by zero and basic addition. Recognizing the correct sequence is the main challenge.

Is This an Advanced Math Problem?

No. It tests a basic arithmetic convention. Its usefulness comes from showing how easily a familiar expression can be misread when you answer quickly.

The Final Answer

The expression 60 + 60 × 0 + 1 equals 61.

First:

60 × 0 = 0

Then:

60 + 0 + 1 = 61

The most helpful habit is to inspect the operations before calculating. Look for grouping symbols, identify multiplication or division, and then complete addition or subtraction.

What was your first answer: 61, 1, or something else? Share your approach in the comments, and explain which operation you performed first.