From this perspective, 2(4) is handled as a single unit, leading to a final answer of 1.
Weighing in on the debate, Rhett Allain, a professor at Southeastern Louisiana University, compared the situation to another famous internet debate: “This is the math version of, ‘What color is this dress? Blue and black or gold and white?’”
He personally supports 16 but emphasizes that the issue is rooted in notation rather than pure mathematics:
“Of course this isn’t math. This is convention. We have conventions on how to write these things just like we have conventions on how to spell stuff. But still, there are different conventions. Some people spell it as ‘gray’ and others as ‘grey.’”
He added: “We still understand what’s going on. For me, I would write this more explicitly so that there is no confusion…That way no one will get it wrong.”
More Than Just Math
Whether you side with 16 or 1, the viral equation highlights something bigger: even in a field built on precision, interpretation can still spark disagreement.
And maybe that’s why this problem captured so much attention—because sometimes, even math isn’t as clear-cut as it seems.
