Answer to 8÷2 (2+2) using PEMDAS

Question

Is it 16 or 1 for the answer I'm soooooooooo confused

Answer 1

I agree with the answer given by Richard & Patrick.

 

However, in England they tend to treat things such as 1/2x in a different way, asserting that the product 2x must be the entire denominator, in which case a different answer obtains, when x is other than 1.

 

Consult Wikipedia on BODMAS or 'order of operations in evaluating algebraic expressions.'  In essence, they treat IMPLIED MULTIPLICATION differently. There's even a standard for writing formulas on one line, with / for division, which Feynman uses for Physics papers. All of which reinforces the weakness of trying to write complicated formulas on a single line of typing, without explicit parenthesization--a chronic problem throughout theWyzAnt experience.

 

As a consequence of this difference between U.S. and U.K., we must all be vigilant and ask students to parenthesize sufficiently to make the order of operations explicit.

Answer 2

Simplify the expression in parentheses 1st (2+2)=4

 

Replace the first ( with a * and discard the last  )

 

No exponents, so skip

 

Now everything is strictly left to right

 

Remember despitebthe order of letters on PEMDAS division and multiplication are "equal" as are addition and subtraction so those operations orders are determined by left to right order.

 

The point of PEMDAS is to get you to simplify () and exponents first and to remember that whatever the solution inside of ( ) is, it will probably get multiplied by something later. The mdas part is a bit misleading.

 

8÷2*4

|

4*4

|

16

 

Im available for pvt tutoring. Good luck in your class!

Answer 3

Aundur.

 

PEMDAS => parentheses first:

 

8/2(2+2) = 8/2 * 4

 

Now, since everything else is multiplication or division, work from left to right:

 

8/2 * 4 = 4 * 4 = 16