Why Millions Still Get Tricked by 100 Divided by 5 in Viral Math Challenges
The core calculation of 100 divided by 5 rarely appears alone in viral social threads. Creators bundle it into complex expressions designed to exploit common math misconceptions around PEMDAS rules (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction).
Consider this recurring puzzle template:
`100 ÷ 5 × 4`
Untrained readers frequently memorize the acronym PEMDAS as a rigid chronological hierarchy, believing Multiplication must occur before Division. Under that mistaken logic, they multiply 5 by 4 first to get 20, then divide 100 by 20 to get 5.
That answer is flatly wrong. In standard mathematics, multiplication and division share equal precedence. Operations resolve strictly from left to right:
- First: 100 ÷ 5 = 20
- Second: 20 × 4 = 80
The correct answer is 80. The misinterpretation stems from how schools teach mnemonic acronyms without reinforcing operational symmetry. In the UK and Australia, where the acronym is taught as BODMAS (Brackets, Orders, Division and Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction), some students make the exact opposite mistake, prioritizing division over multiplication in contexts where left-to-right sequencing governs.
