Math Problem Causes Controversy As People Disagree How To Solve It

Math Problem Causes Controversy As People Disagree How To Solve It The Viral Math Problem That Left the Internet Divided
The internet has a way of turning simple questions into viral debates, and one such case was a seemingly straightforward math problem that sparked widespread confusion. Just like the infamous blue-and-black dress that had social media users—and even experts—arguing over its colors, this equation had people fiercely debating the correct answer.

In 2019, a Twitter user posted a now-controversial math problem:

8 ÷ 2(2 + 2) = ?

What seemed like an ordinary equation quickly turned into a full-blown argument, drawing in mathematicians, sscientists, and even editors from Popular Mechanics, a well-known lifestyle magazine.The Battle Over the Right Answer
The debate largely stemmed from differing interpretations of the order of operations. Many people followed PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division (from left to right), Addition and Subtraction (from left to right))—a rule taught in schools worldwide.