This Simple Maths Equation Is Seriously Dividing The Internet

There’s nothing quite like a disagreement over maths to get people kicking off on X (Twitter) is there?

Well, after someone posted what on the face of it seemed to be a straightforward maths problem, it wasn’t long before all hell broke loose on the social media platform as people debated over two potential answers. 

The controversial question itself, which was posted by @pjmdoll goes as follows: 8 ÷ 2(2 + 2) = ?

They then added: "I do parenthesis, multiplication, then division so I believe it's 1, (this is the same answer I got to).

However they then added: "I see so apparently division comes first... this is why I didn't do well in math okay."

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Responding to the tweet, one person wrote: "[It's] 1. The amount of people saying 16 need to retake math," another agreed: "I have 2 math degrees it's 1."

Another gave a much more in depth explanation: "8÷2(2x2) = 8÷2(4) = 8÷8 = 1 = Answer is 1. Solved Via "BODMAS" Rule : (B racket) O( f ) D÷ ivision M x ultiplication A+ dditional S-ubtraction.”

However, someone else wrote: "You do not need any acronyms to evaluate 8 ÷ 2(2+2), the result is the same whether you do the + first or the ÷ first.

"Just follow these conventions: 1. Do the parenthesis, 2. Do from Left to Right. The correct result is then 4 X 4 = 16. No memorisation of acronyms."

Another backed up that hypothesis, saying: "The correct answer is 16. When the problem is at 8/2(4), You have to calculate from left to right because multiplication and division have the same precedence. So 8/2 first and then 4(4)=16. Just remember the left to right rule, which is a rule a lot of people forget."

So, which is it? 

Well, according to author and YouTuber Presh Talwalker, the correct answer is actually 16.

Writing in his blog MindYourDecisions, he said: "According to the order of operations, division and multiplication have the same precedence, so the correct order is to evaluate from left to right. First take 8 and divide it by 2, and then multiply by 2.

"This is without argument the correct answer of how to evaluate this expression according to current usage.

So, why so much confusion? Well apparently it’s to do with the difference between modern and historic interpretations of the order of operations. 

The correct answer today is 16. An answer of 1 would have been correct 100 years ago.

So, turns out I’m simply from another time, should probably get a new abacus…