A seemingly straightforward math expression has ignited a heated debate across social media, leaving users sharply divided over the correct solution.
The expression in question is:
20 ÷ 5(2 + 2)
At first glance, it appears simple. Yet it has produced two very different answers — 16 and 1 — depending on how people interpret the order of operations.
Those who arrive at 1 treat the expression as if the multiplication inside the parentheses should be grouped with the division, reading it as:
20 ÷ [5 × (2 + 2)]
This leads to:
20 ÷ 20 = 1
However, according to standard mathematical rules — commonly remembered by the acronym PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division from left to right, Addition and Subtraction from left to right) — multiplication and division have equal priority and must be solved from left to right once parentheses are resolved.
Following those rules, the correct steps are:
(2 + 2) = 4
20 ÷ 5 = 4
4 × 4 = 16
Mathematicians and educators largely agree that 16 is the correct answer under conventional notation. Still, the debate highlights how ambiguous formatting can easily lead to confusion, especially when multiplication is implied rather than clearly written.
While the math may be settled in textbooks, the discussion continues online — proving once again that even basic equations can spark major controversy in the digital age.
So, what answer did you get?