A tweet has gone viral with users debating in the comments over the math used to solve a basic algebra question.

The PEMDAS method calls for problems to be solved in this order: Parenthesis, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction.

PEMDAS stands for parentheses, exponents, multiplication and division, and addition and subtraction. It demonstrates the right order in which to solve a math equation like this one.

But the 'special rule' here is the order of operations PEMDAS: parentheses first, then exponents, multiplication and division, and finally addition and subtraction.