Viral math problem baffles many on Internet: Can you solve 8÷2(2+2)?

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Frank Miles | Fox News


https://i.imgur.com/7ZEMYjil.jpg

“8÷2(2+2).”

Can you solve this math problem?

The equation went viral online this week on Twitter causing major confusion over the right answer.
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Mathematicians and physicists went nuts about it.

Mike Breen, the Public Awareness Officer for the American Mathematical Society, told Popular Mechanics: “The way it’s written, it’s ambiguous. In math, a lot of times there are ambiguities. Mathematicians try to make rules as precise as possible.”

Depending on where in the world you learned math, as Mashable reported, determines how you can solve the problem.
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There is the PEMDAS method: the order of operations is Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction, typically from left to right.
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There is also the BODMAS method: Brackets, Orders, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction.
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So, the answer is 1.

The answer also is 16.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Sorry, but it's not ambiguous in the least and there's only one answer.

The answer is 1

[DemonGeminiX]

16

[DemonGeminiX]

Sorry, but it's not ambiguous in the least and there's only one answer.

The answer is 1

Nope. Wrong.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

https://mashable.com/article/math-equation-divides-twitter/

The Mashable article has more detail

[Teh One Who Knocks]

16

:wrong:

[DemonGeminiX]

https://mashable.com/article/math-equation-divides-twitter/

The Mashable article has more detail

If they're saying 1, they're wrong.

Parenthesis first, then it's nothing but multiplication and division. Multiplication and division are the same exact operation and hold the same precedence, so the resulting expression after you finish what's in parenthesis is evaluated from left to right.

This is the way it's done:

8/2(2+2) parenthesis first
8/2(4) multiplication and division hold the same precedence so evaluate from left to right
4(4) = 16

If you put it in a graphing calculator, it'll give you the same answer. If you put it in a Google search engine, it'll spit out the same answer.

1 is wrong.

16 is the answer.

Sincerely, the guy with the degree in Applied Mathematics.

[DemonGeminiX]

Let's put it this way:

Let's replace one of the 2s in parenthesis with the variable x.

So 8/2(2+2) becomes 8/2(x+2) => 4(x+2) => 4x+8. Now let x = 2. The answer's 16.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

PEMDAS - parenthesis, exponents, multiplication/division, addition/subtraction

8÷2(2+2)

8÷2(4)

8÷8

1

[Teh One Who Knocks]

A mathematics professor from Oxford University, who wished to remain anonymous, explained that there isn't one correct answer - as the equation has been ambiguously written, leaving it open to interpretation.

They said: "Without better brackets, there can be ambiguity. There are conventions about the order of operations to try to resolve this, sometimes called BODMAS in UK schools.

"If it still seems unclear, it's best to include brackets to remove any possible ambiguity. Mathematicians do not generally have problems communicating with each other about things like this, but for whatever reason people seem to enjoy posing these kinds of problems on social media!"

From another article.

[DemonGeminiX]

You're PEMDAS is correct, but your violating it in execution. You don't do multiplication before division. You're treating them like separate operations with multiplication having a higher precedence. That's wrong. Multiplication and division are the same operation. When you have an expression full of multiplications and divisions, you evaluate from left to right, regardless of what comes first.

PEMDAS actually means: Parenthesis, Exponents, Multiplication/Division from left to right, Addition/Subtraction from left to right

8/2 is actually 8 * (1/2)

So 8/2(2+2) => 8 *(1/2)*(2+2) => 8*(1/2)*4 => 4*4 => 16

To get 1, you have to force 8/(2(2+2)) with the extra parenthesis here. 8/2(2+2) does not do that. 8/2(2+2) => (8/2)(2+2) by arithmetic operator precedence rules.

[DemonGeminiX]

From another article.

Stop listing articles, start listening to me. Or if you can't accept my bachelor's degree in mathematics as a sufficient authority on the topic, listen to this guy:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaitsBUyiNQ

[Hal-9000]

I said 16 instantly despite the pemdas rule. My mind said 16 and algebra was never my strong suit.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Type it into a scientific calculator exactly as it's written:

https://i.imgur.com/NNEzLmo.png

[Hal-9000]

I was never good at algebra or cared. Times I've used it in my life for anything? Find x when y is stfu.

[DemonGeminiX]

Type it into a scientific calculator exactly as it's written:

https://i.imgur.com/NNEzLmo.png

That's not how it's written.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Type it in, in the exact order, from left to right, and that's what comes up in the calculator.

[DemonGeminiX]

Not in my calculator, and not in Google either.

[Goofy]

I got 1 :)

I totally bolloxed higher maths but did get a 1 in standard grade maths :lol:

[DemonGeminiX]

1 is wrong

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Not in my calculator, and not in Google either.

https://i.imgur.com/4Ys8dtq.png

https://i.imgur.com/4Jsze0C.png

https://i.imgur.com/zQ2RWf1.png

https://i.imgur.com/UcpKWa7.png

https://i.imgur.com/kyukz30.png

https://i.imgur.com/MEcaNdj.png

https://i.imgur.com/LcpbI6P.png

https://i.imgur.com/Uu17xDb.png

[DemonGeminiX]

Again, you're assuming it should be written that way, but it's not.

And at this point, you're just trolling.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

:facepalm:

THAT'S THE WAY THE CALCULATOR INTERPRETS THE EQUATION FFS :shakehead:

[DemonGeminiX]

This is how it's rendered by Google and real calculators. It gives the correct answer.

https://i.imgur.com/6gETVN8.png

[fricnjay]

The answer is 16 you have to use the proper order of operations. They taught this stuff in in Jr High.

[DemonGeminiX]

Thank you.

[Hal-9000]

Hey I said 16 before reading any of the rhetoric.


hal's confirmation bias = 0 :(

[DemonGeminiX]

Thank you, too. You're a wonderful man.

[Hal-9000]

*beams* :)

[PorkChopSandwiches]

I agree with DGX. It math, not up for debate