Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; the founding fathers of one’s maths education.
For some, mathematics are simple – all it takes is the application of consistent formulas to solve problems. For others, they’re the devil incarnate – causing anxiety and confusion.
A recent tweet is sending the internet spiralling into the latter camp. Twitter user @pmjdoll posted a seemingly simply equation, asking folks to solve it.
Get your thinking caps on. Here it is:
The posed equation is: 8/2(2+2) = ?
It doesn’t look that complicated does it? Well, as it turns out, the web can’t seem to agree on a conclusive answer. Who’d have thought that maths isn’t that simple after all?
Have a look at people’s thoughts below:
So what is the answer, 16 or 1? Well, there’s a big reason for all the confusion: geography.
There are two predominant methods of solving simple equations. PEDMAS (Parenthesis, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction) and BODMAS (Brackets, Orders, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction). The answer you get will rely heavily upon which method you were taught.
Some math gurus explain below:
However, according to Twitter user @bstpeach, the problem is written in a way designed to stir confusion.
Check out their tweet:
The main lesson to takeaway from this equation: f*ck maths.
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After graduating from Glasgow Caledonian University with an NCTJ and BCTJ-accredited Multimedia Journalism degree, Cameron ventured into the world of print journalism at The National, while also working as a freelance film journalist on the side, becoming an accredited Rotten Tomatoes critic in the process. He’s now left his Scottish homelands and took up residence at UNILAD as a journalist.