Math Is Fun Forum

paulb203

Member

Registered: 2023-02-24

Posts: 284

PEMDAS etc

8÷2(2+2)=?

I've Googled this one but don't know who to believe.

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Prioritise. Persevere. No pain, no gain.

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,591

Re: PEMDAS etc

8÷2(2+2)=?

Not 8÷(2(2+2))=?

So I think there's only one interpretation.

Do the bracket first 8÷2(4)=?

Put in the missing multiplication sign

8÷2x4

Then evaluate in order

4 x 4 = 16

Wolfram Alpha agrees with this.

Bob
ps. rules such as PEMDAS, BODMAS etc are unclear that multiplication and division have equal status.

So 21 x 3 ÷ 7 and 21 ÷ 7 x 3 are the same.

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Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob