Robert-Owen-Wahl / Pixabay
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: there’s a simple math problem that’s tearing the Internet apart. I caught this discussion at Twitter, ran the math, and came back with the correct answer. Simple, right? Not so much.
The correct answer to this pretty straight forward equation is entirely dependent upon where you were raised and learned math. Some people like myself learned PEMDAS, others learn BOMDAS (Bracket, Of, Divide, Multiply, Add, Subtract).
Normally, when one of these ‘solve this’ equations goes viral it’s because most people can’t do math. This is a genuine case of the answer depending on which method you were taught. Let’s check it out:
oomfies solve this pic.twitter.com/0RO5zTJjKk
— ❦ (@pjmdolI) July 28, 2019
https://twitter.com/celestiallight_/status/1156296200586289153
The answer is 1, right? PEMDAS leads to 2+2 = 4. 2(4) = 8. Then 8/8 = 1. But if you do this wonky BOMDAS method you wind up with an answer of 16 and this is where all hell breaks loose.
Anything other than 1 is absolutely wrong hth
— Amit_ (@Amit44Mali) July 28, 2019
This is wrong (according to PEMDAS). It doesn’t make it any more correct just because you wrote it out on paper.
https://twitter.com/cmcmemes/status/1155539182309134337
This hurts my head:
You need to see the how bracket is created.
There can be two cases:Case 1:
8 ÷ 2 x (2+2) = 8 ÷ 2 x 4 = 4 x 4 = 16Case 2 (Given case):
8 ÷ 2(2+2) = 8 ÷ 2(4) = 8 ÷ 8 = 1RULE is STEP-BY-STEP following of BODMAS (Bracket, Of, Divide, Multiply, Add, Subtract)
Hope it helps !
— #FreeMessi (@fcb_banter) July 29, 2019
okay we’re gonna re learn pemdas
p= parenthesis
e= exponents
m/d= multiplaction/division in order from LEFT to RIGHT
a/s = addition/subtraction in order from LEFT to RIGHTthank u https://t.co/LO0TPxsL45
— lynlie (@iynlieiynlie) July 30, 2019
since part of the world teaches PEMDAS and part teaches BODMAS algebra can be quite confusing at times pic.twitter.com/UaXSPMwvYJ
— Mark Bott (@questionablmark) July 30, 2019
Both 1 and 16 are correct answers because the notation of the equation is incorrect. Can everyone stfu now? https://t.co/N5SFpSyewH
— kookadooks⁷ (@tls123_twt) July 30, 2019
This is why most teachers tell students to stop using ÷ pretty early on in learning.
— kookadooks⁷ (@tls123_twt) July 30, 2019
This argument is why math is fucking hard. This equation should not be worthy of such a debate and yet, here we are. https://t.co/yvQlVfWcY6
— goldilocs (@maneymorgx) July 30, 2019
A few years back, at the time when Facebook was relevant, it felt like people were sharing ‘can you solve this math problem’ pictures nonstop. They appeared to be an easy and popular way for Facebook Pages to drive up reach by forcing a ton of comments from people answering the question.
What’s great about this one is how people are genuinely split on the answer and the correct answer is entirely dependent upon where someone was raised/taught math. Furthermore, according to some riled up people on Twitter the equation appears to be written wrong which I’m not buying as a viable excuse.
The answer is 1.
The answer is also 16.
Seriously though, the answer is 1.