One would scarcely expect a math problem to provoke such a contentious discussion in a world where divisive disputes are the lifeblood of social media. But that’s exactly what one equation did.
A seemingly straightforward arithmetic problem went viral on social media in 2019 and “practically caused a civil war in the Popular Mechanics office.”
Fundamentally, this was a cultural phenomena that demonstrated how people read laws differently and, occasionally, vehemently defend their opinions. It was not simply about numbers.
Let’s examine why this issue grew so contentious and dissect the drama.
Math isn’t always enjoyable.
This is the problem: 8 ÷ 2(2 plus 2)
On the surface, it appears simple. However, the simplicity is misleading. The answer may be 1 or 16, depending on how you understand the order of operations.
The argument for 16
The PEMDAS/BODMAS rule (Parentheses/Brackets, Exponents/Orders, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction) states that equations or problems must be solved in the order indicated by the acronym, beginning with parentheses, moving on to exponents, and finishing with the remaining operations, always working from left to right.
Accordingly, they should answer the 2 + 2 in the parenthesis first, giving them 8 ÷ 2 x 4. The equation then requires that the leftmost operation be handled first, so 8 ÷ 2 must be solved before 2 x 4.
This yields 4, which is equal to 4 x 4, or 16.
8 ÷ 4 = 4 x 4 = 16 = 2 + 2 = 4
However, a sizable section of the online community—including some highly qualified mathematicians—disagree with this view.
“The way it’s written, it’s ambiguous,” stated Mike Breen of the American Mathematical Society Public Awareness Office.
Using Popular Mechanics to solve this problem, Breen continues, “There are many uncertainties in math. The goal of mathematicians is to create the most exact laws feasible. Strict order of operations would give you 16, but if someone said 1, I wouldn’t slap them across the wrist with a ruler.
The argument for one
How did they receive a score of 1?
Despite having a differing interpretation, the team adhered to the PEMDAS guideline. They contended that the resultant total should be handled as though it were still inside parentheses, thus rewriting the equation as 8 ÷ 2(4), which gives us 1, even though they agreed that the 2 + 2 inside the parenthesis should be answered first.
“This is the math equivalent of, ‘What color is this dress?'” says Rhett Allain, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Physics at Southeastern Louisiana University, in response to the enormous dilemma. Gold and white or blue and black?
The answer, according to Rhett, is 16.
“This is obviously not math. Convention dictates this. Just as we have rules about how to spell things, we also have rules about how to write these things. However, there are still various customs. It is spelled “gray” by some and “grey” by others. “We still understand what’s going on,” he continues. In my opinion, this should be written more clearly to avoid any misunderstandings.In this manner, nobody will make a mistake.
Regardless of whether you’re on team 1 or team 16, this viral craze demonstrates that math has never been more interesting or complicated! Which side are you on, then? Tell us in the comments below!
