Viral maths question that has stumped the internet

Photo / Supplied

This simple equation has frustrated people for years – and it turns out there is more than one correct answer.

The beauty of maths is that, unlike other subjects like English or history, there is usually only one correct answer.

But this question continues to stump people online since it first went viral two years ago as there is not one, but two possible correct answers – and how you answer will depend on how you were taught maths.

What's 8÷2 (2+2)?

Depending on which method you used to solve the question your answer will be either one or 16 – and neither answer is incorrect.

This maths question has two correct answers, confounding people across the internet. Photo / news.com.au

American Mathematical Society public awareness officer Mike Breen said your answer would be dependant on whether you learnt maths using the PEMDAS or BODMAS method.

He explained why your answer could be different when the confusing equation first went viral back in 2019.

"The way it's written, it's ambiguous. In math [sic], a lot of times there are ambiguities. Mathematicians try to make rules as precise as possible," Dr Breen told Popular Mechanics, according to The Sun.

The PEMDAS method sees equations solved in the order of parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition and subtraction.

PEMDAS would see you work out what was inside the brackets first and then multiply before dividing last, meaning your answer would be one.

Photo / Supplied

But the BODMAS method means you would solve the question this way instead: brackets, orders, division, multiplication, addition, subtraction.

Following the BODMAS method you would still work out the brackets first but would then divide before multiplying, meaning your answer would be 16.

The PEMDAS method is more commonly used in the US, while Britain and Australia tend to teach the BODMAS theory.

So, how did you go?