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A fake Facebook event disguised as a math problem has been one of its top posts for 6 months
(www.engadget.com)
this post was submitted on 31 May 2025
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Oh yeah, that's a fun one.
Where I live, this would be considered juxtaposition, at least by uni professors and scientific community, so 2(4-2) isn't the same as 2×(4-2), even though on their own they're equal.
This way, equations such as 15/2(4-2) end up with a definite solution.
So,
15/2(4-2) = 3.75
While
15/2×(4-2) = 15
Usually, however, it is obvious even without assuming juxtaposition because you can look at previous operations. Not to mention that it's most common with variables (Eg. "2x/3y").
Not just where you live, everywhere, in Maths textbooks. Adults forgetting the rules (and unqualified U.S. teachers not teaching what's in the textbooks) is another matter altogether.