This summer, battle lines were drawn over a simple math problem: 8 ÷ 2(2 + 2) = ? If you divide 8 by 2 first, you get 16, but if you multiply 2 by (2 + 2) first, you get 1. So, which answer is right?

Most people break out in a cold sweat when they see fractions. There's something about those little lines and numbers stacked on top of each other that makes even confident adults feel like they're ...