Which sentence is correct? 2 apples plus 2 apples don't equal 5 or 2 apples plus 2 apples doesn't equal 5?

Question:My friend and I are both tutors, and I think the former contraction is correct (don't), but she insists the correct answer is doesn't. I wasn't able to find this information in my material. Please let me know which answer is correct. Thank you.

Answers:
Don't is correct.
doesn't
I would say neither. How about inserting does not.
2 apples plus 2 apples don't equal 5
I would say "doesn't".

The subject of the verb (to do) is the sum (singular) not the apples (plural). So it's "does not", which contracts to "doesn't".

To back this up, what if it were in a mathematical context?
2x plus 2x do not equal 5x ?
Or
2x plus 2x does not equal 5x ?
the correct sentence is the second one.
the focus of this sentence is on the total sum of the 2 groups of apple, not the amount of the apple themselves. to make it logical, think about a similar, but "positive" sentence such as: two apples plus two apples equals to 4 apples. hope it make sense.
Both can be correct; if "two apples plus two apples" is considered a problem it's singular and doesn't is correct; if they are considered separate amounts then don't is correct.
don't

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