Friday, September 30, 2022

Viral Math Problem Quiz

Thanks to a frequent commenter & contributor to the blog for sending what he said is an online viral math problem that has made netizens (a person actively involved in the Internet in general) argue about the correct answer.

Please let me know your answer to the quiz below.  I will post all correct answers or send it to anyone privately who would like the math refresher. 



14 comments:

  1. 16! Definitely wrong because it seems too easy

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    1. The answer is 1. The division symbol separates the dividend or numerator from the divisor or denominator so 8 is the dividend & 2 (2+2) is the divisor. Also the parenthesis of the (2+2) connects it to the 2. To get 16 the equation would have to be written (8/2)(2+2)=16

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  2. Hi Doug - I’m thinking its: 1

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  3. 8 / 2 (2 + 2)
    8 / 2 x 4
    4 x 4
    16

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  4. This one seems very easy. What is viral about it? Follow the basic rules of math. The answer is one.

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  5. All kinds of answers, My self thinks it is 4.

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  6. 2+2=4 x2 =8… 8 divided by 8 =1 Although it depends how u were taught in a school. The modern interpretation is 16

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    Replies
    1. Two orders of operation

      PEMDAS stands for "parenthesis, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction"

      BODMAS stands for “Brackets, Orders, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction.”

      Calculators are programmed to get 16. The division symbol is treated differently than a horizontal

      line with 8 as the numerator & 2(2+2) as the denominator. ​Click here for more.

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  7. Not sure if I remember my PEMDAS and my BOMDAS but I think the answer is 16. If I remember the parenthesis comes first so 2+2=4. Then the multiplication and division have equal standing so we go left to right 8/2=4. Then you are left with 4x4=16. So my answer is16. Its been a long time since I have had to do this!!

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