If – means *, * means +, + means / and / means -, then what is the value of 20…

Concept: In a symbol-substitution puzzle, every printed operator is deliberately swapped with a different arithmetic operation. Solve it in two stages — first rewrite the expression using the REASSIGNED meaning of each symbol, then evaluate the rewritten expression with the standard order of operations (division and multiplication before addition and subtraction, left to right).

Applying it to this expression:

1. Rewrite 20 * 12 + 4 – 6 / 20 by replacing each symbol with its reassigned operation: 20 + 12 ÷ 4 × 6 − 20.

2. Divide first: 12 ÷ 4 = 3.

3. Multiply next: 3 × 6 = 18.

4. The expression now reads 20 + 18 − 20.

5. Add: 20 + 18 = 38.

6. Subtract: 38 − 20 = 18.

Cross-check by regrouping the additive terms differently: (20 − 20) + 18 = 0 + 18 = 18, the same result.

The value of the expression is 18.