2(4) = 8
The equation then becomes:
8 ÷ 8 = 1
This interpretation assumes that implicit multiplication (the 2 before the parenthesis) must be done before division.
It is a convention that we can sometimes encounter in certain mathematical or scientific contexts.
Why do mathematicians talk about ambiguity?
Several experts explained that the real problem does not lie in the calculation… but in the formulation of the equation.
If a term can be interpreted in two ways, it is called marking ambiguity.
In an article, a representative of the American Mathematical Society amusingly summed up the situation: by strictly observing the rules of calculus, we get 16… but you realize that some people read it as 1.
In other words, the calculation is not bad: it is the way it is described that causes confusion.
How to avoid this type of dispute?
