The internet is a vast space filled with perplexing puzzles that leave many scratching their heads and engaging in heated debates to find the right solution.
Much like the infamous blue and black versus white and gold dress that captivated social media and experts alike, a math problem from 2024 sparked a similar storm of discussion online.
This mathematical riddle, posted on Twitter, posed the question: What is the solution to 8 ÷ 2(2 + 2)? This problem not only stirred lively discussions on Twitter but extended its reach across social media, and even engaged workplaces and scientists.
The editors at Popular Mechanics, a well-known lifestyle magazine, found themselves on opposing sides of the debate over this contentious math puzzle. These discussions spilled into their workplace chat as they tried to decode the true answer.
According to one group of editors, the traditional method taught during school years is to follow the PEMDAS rule – Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, and Subtraction. This mnemonic instructs us to solve mathematical expressions in the sequence specified by the acronym: start with parentheses, then exponents, and so forth, moving from left to right.
Applying PEMDAS to our problem, one would first handle the operation within the parentheses (2 + 2), resulting in 4, and leaving us with 8 ÷ 2 x 4. As per this approach, it’s crucial to perform the division operation first, which is how 8 ÷ 2 is solved before 2 x 4, despite the precedence given to multiplication over division.
The division yields 4, turning the expression into 4 x 4. Solving this multiplication gives us 16. However, many individuals and even mathematicians who excel in their field, have expressed disagreement with this interpretation.
The other half of the Popular Mechanics editorial team posited that the correct answer is actually 1. How did they reach this conclusion? Their calculation also applied PEMDAS, yet they interpreted the sequence a bit differently.
They concurred that the calculation within the parentheses (2 + 2) should be executed first, but considered the sum as if it remains inside a set of parentheses, resulting in 8÷2(4). An editor emphasized that in his math education, multiplication operations within parentheses have greater precedence than division, regardless of its location in the equation.
As this math puzzle captured the internet’s curiosity, experts in mathematics and science joined the conversation. Mike Breen, from the American Mathematical Society Public Awareness Office, remarked that adhering to the order of operations results in an answer of 16. Nonetheless, he acknowledged the inherent “ambiguity” of the way the equation is presented.
“In math, ambiguities occur frequently. Mathematicians strive to establish precise rules. According to the strict order of operations, you’d achieve 16, but I wouldn’t admonish someone harshly for suggesting 1,” Breen commented.
Despite the clarity provided by Breen, skepticism remains among some individuals. Another portion of the magazine’s editorial team turned to Physics Professor Rhett Allain from Southeastern Louisiana University for insight, hopeful for a conclusion to the debate.
Professor Allain explained, “This is a matter of convention. We have established ways to denote these expressions, much like we have conventions for spelling. There’s variation, like ‘gray’ or ‘grey,’ but the communicated idea remains understood.”
According to him, the debate could have been avoided if the equation was expressed more clearly as 8/(2*(2+2)), which indeed results in the answer being 1.
