Math problem divides the internet

The Source of the Confusion

Most viral math disputes stem from one common issue: the order of operations.

These rules determine the sequence in which calculations should be performed. Students around the world learn them through acronyms like PEMDAS or BODMAS.

The challenge is that many people remember the acronym but forget some of the finer details.

For example, multiplication and division are treated equally and should generally be solved from left to right. The same principle applies to addition and subtraction.

When equations are written in a way that isn’t perfectly clear, different interpretations can emerge, leading to different answers.