Hey there, number crunchers and math enthusiasts! Ready to test your wits and see if you can solve a problem that even stumped some of the sharpest minds? Grab your favorite pencil and your thinking cap, because it’s time to dive into some number magic.

The question:

Got a good look? Don’t worry, we’ll walk through this step by step. But first, take a moment to jot down what you think the answer might be. No peeking ahead just yet!

Now, let’s break it down:

We start with the equation:

24 ÷ 4 (6 – 4)

First things first, we handle the numbers within the parentheses:

Now, our equation looks like this:

24 ÷ 4 × 2

Here’s where things get interesting. According to the order of operations (you might remember it as PEMDAS/BODMAS – Parentheses/Brackets, Orders/Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, and Subtraction), we need to tackle our division and multiplication from left to right:

And there you have it, folks. The answer:

24 ÷ 4 (6 – 4) = 12

So, did you get it right? Give yourself a pat on the back if you did. You’re officially a math wizard! If not, don’t fret. Math is all about practice and understanding the logic behind it.

Keep solving those puzzles and remember: the true magic lies in the journey of discovery. Happy calculating!