This math puzzle has caused plenty of arguments:
8 ÷ 2(2 + 2)
First, solve the parentheses:
2 + 2 = 4
Now the expression becomes:
8 ÷ 2 × 4
Multiplication and division have the same priority, so under the usual modern order of operations, you work from left to right.
8 ÷ 2 = 4
Then:
4 × 4 = 16
So the answer is:
16
Some people get 1 because they treat 2(4) as a single grouped denominator. That interpretation explains why this puzzle is so controversial, and the original notation is admittedly ambiguous.
But using the usual left-to-right convention for multiplication and division, the answer is 16.
And no — it definitely isn’t 4!
What answer did you get first?
