When an equation contains both addition and multiplication, multiplication must be performed before addition.
Therefore:
10 × 3 = 30
Then:
30 + 3 = 33
The Correct Answer Is 33
So the solution is:
Onion = 3
Chicken = 10
Final answer = 33
The source puzzle likewise gives 33 as the final answer and explains that the common mistake is adding first and multiplying afterward.
Why Do So Many People Get It Wrong?
The difficulty isn’t really the arithmetic.
The trap comes from our tendency to read an equation quickly and perform the operations in the order they appear.
Someone might see:
3 + 10 × 3
and immediately calculate:
3 + 10 = 13
followed by:
13 × 3 = 39
But that approach ignores the standard order of operations.
The correct sequence is:
10 × 3 = 30
and then:
3 + 30 = 33
That small difference is exactly what makes these puzzles so entertaining.
More Than Just a Math Challenge
Brain teasers like this can be a fun way to practice concentration and careful thinking.
They encourage you to slow down, examine the details, and avoid relying entirely on your first instinct.
That’s especially important with visual and mathematical puzzles, where one small detail can completely change the answer.
Did You Get 33?
If you calculated 33 without checking the solution, congratulations — you avoided the trap.
If you got 39, don’t worry. That’s one of the most tempting answers because it comes from solving the equation from left to right.
