Math Problem

Maybe that's why we never made it to the moon.

I used the DUMBASS method in high school:

"Do U Mind, Bother A Smart Student"

PEMDAS and BODMAS are the same thing.

The only difference is that some people like the word "parenthesis" while others like the word "brackets".

Otherwise the mathematical order of operations is the same.

People that say anything different are confused.

1. Do what is in the "parenthesis" or "brackets"
2. Do things like "powers", square Roots, etc.
3. Do the "division" or "multiplication" starting from left-to-right
4. Do the the "addition" or "subtraction" starting from left-to-right

Note: Mathematically "division" & "multiplication" are essentially the same function, as are "addition" & "subtraction". In those mathematical functions you work them from left to right.

Honestly, there is nothing to be confused about.

Math is math.

This is the word many don’t remember in PEMDAS or BODMAP. Because it’s not in there. And so if we go strictly by order of the letters, without the “or”, then we end up with a different answer in the equation for each.


Tell that to the internet.

No, we don't.

PEDMAS and BODMAP are exactly the same thing.

That is actually the point.

In Mathematics there is an order of operations...you can change the words to suit your "language" desires, but the order of operations remains the same.

Regardless... if you use PEDMAS or BODMAP you get the same answer... in this case 16.

If I am wrong, please write out the equations in PEDMAS and in BODMAP and demonstrate how the answer is different.

P > Parentheses first
E > Exponents (ie Powers and Square Roots, etc.)
MD > Multiplication and Division (left-to-right)
AS > Addition and Subtraction (left-to-right)

So…. 8÷2(2+2)=

P >>> 8÷2(2+2) = 8÷2(4)= (doing what is in the parentheses 1st)
E >>> NA in this equation
MD >>>8÷2(4) = 4(4) (working the equation left to right)
AS >>> NA in this equation

So… what is 4(4)? 4x4=16


OR

B > Brackets first
O > Orders (i.e. Powers and Square Roots, etc.)
DM > Division and Multiplication (left-to-right)
AS > Addition and Subtraction (left-to-right)

So…. 8÷2(2+2)=

B >>> 8÷2(2+2) = 8÷2(4)= (doing what is in the brackets 1st)
O >>> NA in this equation
DM >>>8÷2(4) = 4(4) (working the equation left to right)
AS >>> NA in this equation

So… what is 4(4)? 4x4=16



This is astonishingly simple and straight forward.

P E M D A S

For 8 ÷ 2(2+2):

P .... (2+2)=4
E
M .... 2(4)=8
D ..... 8÷8=1
A
S

B O D M A S

For 8 ÷ 2(2+2):

B .... (2+2)=4
O
D ..... 8÷2=4
M ... 4(4)=16
A
S



Yes. If you know to pair M&D, like you did above. And A&S. And D&M. And know to go left and right with those and do whichever one occurs first between the two in a pair when doing so (hence “or”).

Problem is, 90% of the world is not as literate in math as you are and all these hidden rules do not make for common sense unless they are also specifically spelled out in the acronym like the letters are. So when a colorful acronym is remembered, that is LITERALLY all they remember, the letters, not these other rules, and simply go in order of the letters ONE BY ONE, as I illustrated above, instead of also remembering that their math teacher told them 40 years ago that D&M goes together and A&D goes together.but P is on its own and E is on its own, etc, etc.

Your answer is correct. I am not disputing that. I am just pointing out why half the internet is disagreeing with you and coming up with 1 as the answer when using PEMDAS.

By the way, this isn’t an issue of math. It’s literacy.

Either solution is computing correctly. It’s just knowing how to read an equation that makes for the differing results.