At first glance, it looks like a simple children’s math problem. But this colorful puzzle with chickens, eggs, and bananas has been driving people crazy on the internet for years.
Most people confidently give one answer… only to discover they’re completely wrong once they see the explanation.
Are you ready to test yourself?
The Puzzle
Here’s what you see:
Equation 1:
Chicken + Chicken + Chicken = 60
Equation 2:
Chicken + Eggs + Eggs = 26
Equation 3:
Eggs + Bananas + Bananas = 15
Final Question:
Chicken + Eggs × Bananas = ??
Take your time and try to solve it before scrolling down.
Why Most People Get It Wrong
The majority of people rush through the puzzle and make the same mistake: they ignore the order of operations.
They simply add everything from left to right without realizing that multiplication must be done before addition. This small but important rule completely changes the final answer.
Another common mistake is miscounting how many eggs or bananas are shown in each line. The visual grouping matters.
Step-by-Step Solution
Let’s solve it carefully, one equation at a time.
Step 1:
Chicken + Chicken + Chicken = 60
3 Chickens = 60
1 Chicken = 20
Step 2:
Chicken + Eggs + Eggs = 26
20 + Eggs + Eggs = 26
Eggs + Eggs = 6
1 group of Eggs = 3
Step 3:
Eggs + Bananas + Bananas = 15
3 + Bananas + Bananas = 15
Bananas + Bananas = 12
1 group of Bananas = 6
Final Equation:
Chicken + Eggs × Bananas = ??
Remember the order of operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS):
Multiplication comes before addition.
So we calculate:
Eggs × Bananas first = 3 × 6 = 18
Then add the Chicken:
20 + 18 = 38
The Final Reveal: The correct answer to this viral puzzle is 38. Many people mistakenly answer 28 or 26 because they forget to do the multiplication before the addition. Once you follow the correct order of operations and carefully count the items in each line, the answer becomes clear: 20 + (3 × 6) = 38.
Why This Puzzle Tricks So Many People
This puzzle works so well because it plays with two common habits:
- People tend to solve left to right without thinking about order of operations
- The visual style makes it easy to miscount the eggs and bananas
It’s a perfect example of how our brains love to take shortcuts — even when solving something as simple as basic math.
Try It on Your Friends and Family
These kinds of puzzles are great for testing how carefully people read and think. Share it with your friends and see how many of them get 38 on the first try.
You’ll be surprised how many smart people confidently give the wrong answer — and how satisfying it feels when everything finally clicks.
Would you have gotten it right on your first attempt?
This is a popular viral math puzzle originally shared and discussed across various internet communities and forums.
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