It’s unexpected to witness such heated disagreement over a math issue during a time when social media is rife with contentious debates. However, one specific equation was able to accomplish this.
A seemingly simple arithmetic problem in 2019 became a social media hit, sparking what some called a “civil war” within the Popular Mechanics corporate headquarters.
This scenario went beyond simple arithmetic to become a cultural event that demonstrated the variety of ways people interpret the law and the fervent arguments they make in support of their positions.
Let’s examine the specifics and determine the causes of the debate surrounding this mathematical issue.
Math might be a little challenging at times.
Examine the following problem: 8 ÷ 2(2 + 2)
It appears straightforward at first, but that appearance might be deceiving. The answer might be either 1 or 16, depending on how you apply the order of operations.
The justification for 16
We should approach the equation in the order suggested by the acronym, beginning with parentheses, then exponents, and moving through the remaining operations from left to right, in accordance with the PEMDAS/BODMAS rule (Parentheses/Brackets, Exponents/Orders, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction).
This indicates that we get 8 ÷ 2 x 4 by first solving the 2 + 2 in the parentheses. After that, we concentrate on the operation on the left, handling 8 ÷ 2 before going on to 2 x 4.
Since this yields 4, we get 4 x 4, which is 16.
2 + 2 = 4; 8 ÷ 4 = 4.
4 x 4 = 16.
This view, however, is disputed by a large number of members of the online community, including some highly qualified mathematicians.
The wording is ambiguous, according to Mike Breen of the American Mathematical Society Public Awareness Office.
“In mathematics, ambiguities often arise,” Breen said while working with Popular Mechanics to solve this equation. The goal of mathematicians is to provide unambiguous rules. The answer, according to the rigorous order of operations, would be 16, but I wouldn’t chastise someone for stating 1.
The argument for one
How did they determine that the answer was 1?
Although the team followed the PEMDAS guideline, they interpreted it differently. Despite their agreement that the 2 + 2 in the parentheses should be calculated first, they argued that the total that results should still be interpreted as though it were in parenthesis. This effectively rewrites the equation as 8 ÷ 2(4), which leads to 1.
Rhett Allain, Ph.D., an associate professor of physics at Southeastern Louisiana University, comments on this important discussion by comparing it to the well-known query, “What color is this dress? Gold and white or blue and black?
According to Rhett, the right response is 16.
This is about norms, not just math. There are norms for mathematical expressions, just as there are for writing. But there are differences. While some prefer “grey,” others spell it “gray.” “We still understand the meaning,” he adds. To prevent any misunderstandings, I would personally explain this in a clearer manner. No one can misunderstand it that way.
There is no denying that arithmetic has never been more confusing or interesting, regardless of whether you root for team 16 or team 1. Which side are you on, then? Leave a comment with your ideas!
