The internet loves a good mystery, especially when it involves math! Much like the infamous debate over the blue and black dress, a viral math problem had everyone scratching their heads.
In 2019, a Twitter user shared the equation 8 ÷ 2(2 + 2), sparking widespread confusion and debate across social media platforms. Even editors at *Popular Mechanics* couldn’t agree on the solution.
The disagreement stemmed from how to interpret the order of operations, commonly remembered as PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction).
One group of editors solved the parentheses first, yielding 2, then proceeded left to right, dividing before multiplying, which resulted in 16.
Another group treated 2(2 + 2) as a single unit, effectively multiplying 8 by 1/(2*(2+2)) and arriving at the answer of 1. The ambiguity of the equation’s format added to the confusion.
Experts weighed in on the debate. The American Mathematical Society supported the first interpretation, declaring 16 correct but admitted the equation’s phrasing was unclear.
Physics Professor Rhett Allain suggested rewriting it as 8/(2*(2+2)) for clarity, producing the result of 1.
This viral math dilemma highlights how conventions in mathematics can vary, proving that even simple problems can lead to intriguing discussions.
