Math Problem

Solve:

8÷2(2+2)=?

16

Should I share the explanation?

Wouldn't PEMDAS make it 1 ?

(2+2) = 4

assume 2(4) means 2*4 = 8

and
2*4 before 8 / (2*4)
?


Edit: Nevermind - Left to Right

No. You started out right, but got the multiplication/division wrong.

In PEDMAS multiplication & division are "equal" in terms of priority, as are addition & subtraction.

So... yes, you start with the function inside the parentheses... but then you work the problem left to right.

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)=

8÷2(4)=

4(4)= 16

Sorry... I missed your "edit".

No problem though, I have an auditor friends who gets these things wrong all the time.

I don't use him for either my non-profit nor my taxes.

16. If you use PEMDAS. However, others learned BODMAS (brackets first), which would result in an answer of 1.

Point being, there is no definite answer - it just depends on which you were taught and adhere by in terms of order of operations.

I am pretty sure that 2 times 4 = 8

Ahhh - but what is 4 times 2?!


.. the problem is:

Do you divide 8 by 2 then multiply by 4

Or do you multiply 2 times 4 then divide 8 by that number

The "Left-to-Right" rule clarifies that

8 / 2 first, then multiply by 4

-----8/2(4) = 8/8 That is the way Sister Mary Elephant taught it. No one ever disagreed with Sister without sever knuckle damage.

Well, if you wanted to multiply 2x4 First, then you should have put it in parenthesis!

I want to remove parentheses first

Don't make me call Sister

Incorrect.

"Brackets" and "Parentheses" are the same thing.

So you do what is inside the Brackets, or parentheses if you prefer that word, then you follow go to the "division/multiplication", or "multiplication/division.

Since those have equal priority, you work the problem from left to right.


So... Inside the Brackets>>> (2+2)= 4

Now working left to right>>> 8÷2= 4

Now do the multiplication >>> 4(4)= 16

Bodmas rule, if an expression contains brackets ((), {}, []) we have to first solve or simplify the bracket followed by of (powers and roots etc.), then division, multiplication, addition and subtraction from left to right.

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)

BTW if you google it, you get the correct answer:

8÷2(2+2)=

16

You’re right, it’s the other way around.

If you use the PEMDAS method, the order of the equation is Parenthesis, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction. But if you were raised on the BODMAS method, then the order is Brackets, Orders, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction.

At least that’s what the news articles are saying about this equation.

But I think you are right in that it’s not sequential like that. MD is whichever is first, going left to right, as is AS, and DM.