The Internet Is Sparkled by a New Math Puzzle: The 8 ÷ 2(2 + 2) Debate
There are many confusing riddles and contentious disputes on the internet. Do you recall the widely shared blue and black garment that sparked a social media frenzy? Now fasten your seatbelts, because we’re about to unveil another brainteaser that has scientists and even workplaces scratching their minds.
An Online Ad Challenge
It all began in 2019 when someone uploaded a picture to Twitter and challenged their followers to solve 8 ÷ 2(2 + 2), a math problem that has since become contentious. A seemingly straightforward equation has sparked a heated discussion on numerous social media platforms, including Twitter.
Contrasting Views at Popular Mechanics
Even the editors of the well-known lifestyle magazine Popular Mechanics couldn’t agree on how to solve this notorious arithmetic problem. They fervently discussed and attempted to solve the puzzle of the right response in the chat room designated for work.
One editor supported the application of the “PEMDAS” rule—which stands for “Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, and Subtraction”—in the classroom. This rule states that equations should be solved in the left-to-right sequence of operations indicated in the acronym: parentheses first, exponents next, and so on.
Using this to our issue, the editor showed us that we ought to address the 2 + 2 in the parenthesis first, yielding 4. Which leaves us with 8 ÷ 2 x 4. Division should be solved before multiplication in a left-to-right manner such that the quotient is 4. Thus, 4 x 4 provides us with the solution of 16. But there was a lot of dissent to this view, even from math-savvy skeptics.
Editors at Popular Mechanics disagreed, claiming that there is only one possibility. Although they took a different strategy, they likewise followed the “PEMDAS” guideline. They concurred that the 2 + 2 enclosed in parentheses ought to be answered initially, but they also handled the sum—8 ÷ 2(4)—as though it were enclosed in parenthesis. In their understanding, even if a division occurs on the left side of the equation, a multiplication operation enclosed in parenthesis takes precedence.
Professional Views
Scientists and mathematicians entered the conflict as the argument heated up and captured the attention of the internet. According to the order of operations, the right answer is 16, as stated by Mike Breen of the American Mathematical Society Public Awareness Office. He does admit, though, that there is uncertainty introduced by the way the equation is expressed.
There are frequently ambiguities in math. The goal of mathematicians is to define exact rules. You get 16 if you follow the procedure precisely, although Breen acknowledged, “I wouldn’t chastise someone for saying 1.”
Still, some people aren’t persuaded by Breen’s viewpoint. The second group of magazine editors sought clarification from Southeastern Louisiana University physics professor Rhett Allain, whom they thought had finally settled the dispute.
To be clear, Allain said, “This is a convention issue. Similar to how the color is spelled, there are various rules for how to spell it. We can still grasp what’s going on even though we have set rules for writing mathematical equations. According to Allain, the question should have been stated correctly as 8/(2*(2+2)), which would have produced a 1 as the answer.
The Current Discussion
The question still stands, my readers: 16 or 1? The conflict over interpretations never fails to pique curiosity and highlight the fascinating field of mathematics.
