A viral challenge tweeted yesterday by Ghanaian news website Pulse Ghana has turned generations against each other in the West African country and around the world.

What's your answer?⁣
⁣#PulseTeaser pic.twitter.com/8brUF1B5Nr

— Pulse Ghana (@PulseGhana) May 18, 2022

The teaser, which features a math problem that must be solved through the order of operations, offers two different answers depending on what method you use. Older people in Ghana were taught a method that would yield "9" as the answer to this math question, while younger people were taught a method (BODMAS) that would yield "1" as the answer.

Americans are fr so weird like it’s BODMAS tf is PEMDAS

— S🧚 (@saanzzii) May 15, 2022

"BOMDAS" stands for "Brackets, Orders, Division, Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction."

😂why them invent new maths?….the answer is 1…the of in the bodmas is multiplication of the number infront of the bracket and what is in the bracket https://t.co/dRtqf5HOz7

— SHAI🇬🇭 (@ShyBoyShai) May 18, 2022

I solved it in either ways and the Answer is 1. Y'all can rest now pic.twitter.com/IHyUkbOetV

— Nana Bafo (@nanabafoafrica) May 18, 2022

The initial wave of answers to the question featured many older people responding with the "9," but pretty soon, “answer is 1” began trending globally on Twitter. Some users invoked a higher authority to justify their position.

Please the answer is 1, i confirmed from the ancestors.

— I5aac Newton (@Mecury_3) May 18, 2022

Nothing pains than when ur P.E teacher agrees that the maths teacher can use ein time 😹😹😹 forget about the BODMAS pic.twitter.com/OpOtddsbBb

— BRAIN 🧠 BOSS 😎 (@BRAIN_BOSS1) May 18, 2022

Others celebrated their own mathematical prowess — or mournfully joked about their lack of it.

Me Taking the Award For Answering The BODMAS question with the Answer 12345678and 9 pic.twitter.com/D3hjHr4M3k

— Rex🌐👑 (@RexfordKingsley) May 18, 2022

People are debating whether the answer is 1 or 9 and there is me who got 27 as the answer. pic.twitter.com/AUHE7HxjN0

— SHERLOCK ♟🙈 (@Dr_Ntiamoah_N) May 18, 2022

Home Econs students trying to understand what course BODMAS is pic.twitter.com/A1kI7ZMOwP

— Kobby Morant 🥽 (@KobbyMorant) May 18, 2022

Others encouraged the public to see the broader perspective and to stop posting and bickering about a math problem.

Forget BODMAS and turn your phone upside down pic.twitter.com/HWm0SedDiU

— Knight Walker 👨🏻‍💻 𓃵 (@sobal_official) May 18, 2022

BODMAS won't matter in Heaven. I heard Sarkodie sef had the answer wrong 😂

— Twilight🇬🇭🏴‍☠️ (@the_marcoli_boy) May 18, 2022

I'm not BODMAS but I can help you solve your problems pic.twitter.com/sXLS5CyQls

— Sunshine ꨄ︎⍟ (@veebright) May 19, 2022

Whether the answer is 1 or 9, it won't put food on your table….why stress ?🤭🤫

— Beautiful inside out🦋💜 (@akua_ash) May 18, 2022

Like the classic Gen X vs. Gen Z argument and the Boomers vs. everybody else argument in the United States, the math brouhaha is a clash in yet another generational meme war.

Not only is math different for older and younger Ghanaians, but the educational system itself is different: The educational system in Ghana has improved over the past few decades, with literacy rates increasing and the gender gap in educational attainment decreasing. Presumably, these kids are being taught BODMAS.