Mathematics Debate Sparks Controversy Online: 4 or 36?
"This is causing serious argument." A trending photo of a mathematical question has sparked a heated debate online. The lady who shared the photo gave only two options to choose from. A serious argument ensued afterwards in the comments section. "Olodo come plenty pass people wey sabi the answer", someone reacted to the post.
AKACHI NOEL 
A seemingly straightforward mathematical equation, "60 ÷ 5(7-4) =", has ignited a heated debate on social media, leaving netizens divided over the correct answer. Shared via the X app, the equation prompted conflicting responses, with some asserting the answer is 4, while others argue it's 36.
The dispute revolves around the order of operations, with users applying PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, and Addition and Subtraction) in different ways. Advocates for 36 contend that division should precede multiplication, resulting in 60 ÷ 5 = 12, then multiplying by the result in parentheses, 12(7-4) = 12(3) = 36.
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On the contrary, supporters of the answer 4 argue that multiplication should be done first, yielding 5(7-4) = 5(3) = 15, followed by dividing 60 by 15, resulting in 60 ÷ 15 = 4.
The online discourse continues, with Twitter users passionately defending their respective answers and referencing mathematical principles. As the debate persists, it underscores the diverse approaches to problem-solving and interpretation of mathematical conventions.
