Robert Glenn Howard, a social psychologist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, told Slate that such equations are the same as riddles and games, and people get heated over such things because Facebook and other forums are a place for discussion: “People are already primed to engage in pretty intense deliberations, and that can bleed over into the way they play games.”
“Humans have used riddles as a form of play since ancient times,” Howard explained. “And sometimes people can get competitive and wrapped up in it.”
Just in case you were wondering, the answer to the equation is 16. No, wait. Never mind. Yep. Definitely 16. Definitely.
0
1.
August 5 year s ago
The answer is 1. When you advance far enough in math you get to chaos theory, quantum physics and swarm dynamics. Then you discover that everything you learned is wrong. (Start with the cat in the box) We as humans are defined because we use the decimal system, our way of calculating value, time and distance. 
-2
2.
Mushroom 5 year s ago
Depends of rules. If 2(2+2) actually means 2∙(2+2) then 16, if not then 1.
It simple examle, in math there are much more undefined example like matrices, which one you use row-oriented or column-oriented matrix by subscription they looks indentical it can be ether row oriented or column oriented:
|2 4 3|
|6 7 8|
|9 8 2|
Same about ∙ it can be scalar multiplication or dot product in geometry.
Good math article always define operation subscription before writing formula.
It simple examle, in math there are much more undefined example like matrices, which one you use row-oriented or column-oriented matrix by subscription they looks indentical it can be ether row oriented or column oriented:
|2 4 3|
|6 7 8|
|9 8 2|
Same about ∙ it can be scalar multiplication or dot product in geometry.
Good math article always define operation subscription before writing formula.
0
3.
Girl 5 year s ago
answer : 69 
1
4.
Forget 5 year s ago
16 is only the correct answer when you treat the equation as:
(8÷2)(2+2)
... which it appears that some calculators are doing.
Work backwards to find out what the correct answer is:
8÷2(2+2)= ?
8= ? x 2(2+2)
You cannot bring over the 8÷2 because it is not bracketed.
and so 16 x 2(2+2) is obviously not 8.
The answer is 1.
(8÷2)(2+2)
... which it appears that some calculators are doing.
Work backwards to find out what the correct answer is:
8÷2(2+2)= ?
8= ? x 2(2+2)
You cannot bring over the 8÷2 because it is not bracketed.
and so 16 x 2(2+2) is obviously not 8.
The answer is 1.
It simple examle, in math there are much more undefined example like matrices, which one you use row-oriented or column-oriented matrix by subscription they looks indentical it can be ether row oriented or column oriented:
|2 4 3|
|6 7 8|
|9 8 2|
Same about ∙ it can be scalar multiplication or dot product in geometry.
Good math article always define operation subscription before writing formula.
(8÷2)(2+2)
... which it appears that some calculators are doing.
Work backwards to find out what the correct answer is:
8÷2(2+2)= ?
8= ? x 2(2+2)
You cannot bring over the 8÷2 because it is not bracketed.
and so 16 x 2(2+2) is obviously not 8.
The answer is 1.