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

But this question has continued 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 it will all 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.

Mike Breen, American Mathematical Society Public Awareness Officer said your answer would all depend on whether you learnt maths using the PEMDAS or BODMAS method.

Breen explained why your answer could be different when the confusing equation first went viral 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,” Breen said.

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.

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.

How did you do?!