This simple math problem is going viral on the internet!

3 Aug 2019

This simple math problem is going viral on the internet!

This simple math problem is going viral on the internet!Math is fun and at the same time, challenging as well. Some problems will have tricky answers, while some have direct answers.

One such simple, yet confusing problem, had gone viral on social media recently.

Here is the problem: 8÷2(2+2) =?

Some people calculated the problem and concluded that the answer is 16. While others say that the answer is 1.
 	As it has multiple math operations involved in it, it is solved using PEMDAS or BODMAS (brackets, orders, division and multiplication, and addition and subtraction).
 	Everyone agrees that the 2+2 in parentheses should be simplified first. Of course, 2+2 = 4. Further, the question comes down to 8÷2×4. It is at this stage that the confusion and disagreement arises.
 	Now that division and multiplication is involved, which one takes priority is the confusing part. If we carry out the division first, we get 4×4 = 16. If we carry out the multiplication first, we get 8÷8 = 1.
 	According to BODMAS, multiplication and division have equal priority. 
 	Calculators give the answer either as 16 or 1, depending on the way question is fed into it.

Though this is not a new problem, it has created a buzz on the internet after a person posted this question on his Twitter account on 28th July 2019.

Twitter is still deciding what the right answer is. I personally think it's 16!

What is your answer to this problem? Do let us know.

Recommended for Secondary Grades

Math is fun and at the same time, challenging as well. Some problems will have tricky answers, while some have direct answers. One such simple, […]

To read more...

Share your comment! Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

To post your comment Login/Signup