Editors of Popular Mechanics, a lifestyle magazine, were at a standstill as they were divided on the infamous math conundrum. Taking the conversation to their official workplace chatbox, the editors debated and decoded what the real answer to the question was.
This meant that the 2 + 2 in the parenthesis should be solved first, which would give out 2, leaving people with 8 ÷ 2 x 4. After this, the equation calls for solving the leftmost operation first, as explained by Mashup Math, so that means 8 ÷ 2 must be solved first rather than 2 x 4 despite Multiplication taking precedence over Division.
As the question siphoned the energy of the internet on the wild debate, mathematicians and scientists entered the battle. American Mathematical Society Public Awareness Office Mike Breen cited that based on the order of operations, 16 is the right answer.
However, he admitted that the equation, on the way it was written, is actually “ambiguous” in nature.
“In math, a lot of times, there are ambiguities. Mathematicians try to make rules as precise as possible. According to the strict order of operations, you’d get 16, but I wouldn’t hit someone on the wrist with a ruler if they said 1,” he said.
Despite Breen’s clear answer, some people are still unconvinced. The other half of the magazine editors sought the help of Physics Professor Rhett Allain from Southeastern Louisiana University, which they believed had finally solved the debate.
“This is convention. We have conventions on how to write these things, just like we have conventions on how to spell stuff. But still, there are different conventions. Some people spell it as ‘gray’ and others as ‘grey.’ We still understand what’s going on,” he clarified.
But for him, the question should have been correctly written like this 8/(2*(2+2)), which would yield the quotient of 1.
