Kenneth Chang

It's not a question for mathematicians: there is no math in it, only elementary-school level arithmetics. The answer is 16. If it were 8÷(2(2+2)) then the answer would be 1. Yes, it's that simple.

If there were a rule that 2(4) had priority in the order of operations, would it make the calculation more interesting? No. No one writes the equation in this form, because it’s ambiguous. Write as a fraction, and there’s no ambiguity, and that’s a better option in every way.

There is no ambiguity about this. Just a lot of people who don’t know the rules.

There is indeed ambiguity, caused by the ÷ sign. It's why that symbol isn't used in real equations. The ÷ makes it unclear whether the dividend is 2 or 2(2+2). Also, you shouldn't divide yet if parentheses still exist.

Nope. There are no parentheses around the 2(2+2). Multiplication and division are applied as a group from left to right in order after exponents and parenthetical statements are resolved. Not ambiguous in the least. The rules are complete and simple.

Okay, I guess my math degree is different from yours then.