16 or 1, depending.
According to PEMDAS, parentheses come first: 8 ÷ 2 (4)
Then, even though multiplication is first in PEMDAS, you go left to right: 4 (4) = 16
If you got 1, you’re in good company. That’s what I got at first too but most calculators I’ve tried get 16.
I found this at Popular Mechanics and the debate continues online.
2 Comments on "Seemingly Simple Math"
Mark W says
September 1, 2019 @ 22:43
Hi Dan,
Like you, I arrived at the answer: 1.
Simply because to equal 16, I believe the equation would have to be set out as:
(8 ÷ 2) (2 + 2) ?
Love your puzzles, thanks!
Will J says
September 30, 2019 @ 13:58
I don’t know how you come up with 1….I get 16 all day
8÷2(2+2)=
8÷2(4)=
4(4)=
4*4=
16
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