MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

8
-------
2(2+2) Is this not 1

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

If you've never seen the method of finding the answer using the "new math" go to YouTube and watch a video. I couldn't believe the stupidity of it and couldn't watch the entire video because it was driving me crazy and making me angry. I can't imagine using this method to figure out the interest for a car payment or mortgage. Imagine using this method to launch a rocket to Mars.

There was nothing wrong with the old math. It terrifies me to think what this world will be like in 40 or 50 years if this type of low standard learning is allowed to continue.

Dodie

OhD Loc: West Richland, WA

I stand corrected. Per PEMDAS it's 16

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

That can't be the correct answer as you wrote the original formula

8/2(2+2)= 8 divided by 2 times (2 plus 2) equals

8 divided by 2 = 4
2 plus 2 = 4
4 times 4 = 16

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

PEMDAS says the denominator is 8. get rid of parenthesis first.

Ollieboy

If my algebra learnings are still there I would say 16

pquiggle Loc: Monterey Bay California

The correct answer is 16. PEMDAS is not exactly the correct rule. A better way to write it is PE(MD)(AS). Multiplication and division are equals and must be performed in the order written (left to right) the same is true of addition and subtraction. Typed, as written in the original post, into Excel or any scientific calculator will give an answer of 16.

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

That equation written in fraction form is 8 divided by 2(2+2). How can 2(2+2) = 1/2 which would be needed to get an answer of 16 ? NOT logical. 2(2+2)=8 anyway you look at it.

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

Ok, obviously we are going nowhere fast so I will tell you after going to the SOLUTION answer it DEPENDS on the rules of engagement. Straight line calculator gives 16. PEMDAS which we ALL learned for Eons before calculators gives 1. Lesson learned, DO NOT ASSUME ANYTHING. Go by the accepted rules.

pquiggle Loc: Monterey Bay California

To write it in what you called "fraction form" you would need to write it as 8/(2(2+2)) in which case the answer is 1.

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

Gee, that is what I explained 2 replies above yours.... Are you now saying writing in fraction form is invalid ? The entire point is you have to play by the rules in play... If you do straight line calculator button pushing you are NOT using PEMDAS and the answer of 16 is invalid.

pquiggle Loc: Monterey Bay California

Multiplication before division is not the correct order of operations. Multiplication and division are to be done after exponentiation in the order they are written from left to right. and before addition and subtraction. It is PEMDAS that is invalid.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Yes, one DOES have to know how to transcribe it to a particular calculator!

If it was written as a fraction, as in 8 over the quantity 2(2+2) then the in line formula would be 8/(2*(2+2)).
(the 2* is implied)

Since it was not written as a fraction in that form, it would be
8/2(2+2)
Multiplication is implied:
8/2*(2+2)

Parens done first yields:
8/2*4

Multiplication & division are done before addition & subtraction, IN THE ORDER THAT THEY APPEAR.
8/2=4

4*4=16


Plug "=8/2(2+2)" in an Excel cell and see what it come up with.
Addendum-
I tried plugging it into my phone, it came up with 16 also.....
And the calculator in my phone knew the implied multiplication of 2( is 2*(.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Or, the interpretation of PEMDAS is invalid.......

Vince68 Loc: Wappingers Falls, NY

I'm not as old as most here it seems (turned 70 this past January) this is how its done following PEMDAS. The answer would be 8/2(2+2) = 4(2+2) = 4(4) = 16

Even though Multiplication comes before Division in PEMDAS, both operations have the same priority, but you complete them going from the left to the right. In this example, you would divide first 8/2 to get 4, then do the multiplication, and the answer is 16.

Here's an explanation of the rules given in PEMDAS:

1. P as the first letter means you complete any calculations in grouping symbols first.

2. Next, look for exponents, E. Ignore any other operation, and take any numbers with exponents to their respective powers.

3. Even though M for multiplication in PEMDAS comes before D for division, these two operations actually have the same priority. Complete only those two operations in the order they occur from left to right.

4. Even though A for addition is in PEMDAS before S for subtraction, these two operations also have the same priority. You look for these last two operations from left to right and complete them in that order.

Source: https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-pemdas-definition-rule-examples.html