Fact check: 25 - 5 / 5 = 4!

1. Summary of the results

The mathematical statement "25 - 5 / 5 = 4!" is actually correct, but not for the reasons one might initially assume. The solution involves two key mathematical concepts:

• Following the Order of Operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS), we first calculate 5/5 = 1, then 25 - 1 = 24 ^[1]
• The expression "4!" represents factorial of 4, which equals 24 (4 × 3 × 2 × 1) ^[2]

Therefore, both sides of the equation equal 24, making the statement mathematically valid.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement lacks crucial context about:

• The proper application of Order of Operations rules (PEMDAS/BODMAS) in mathematical calculations ^[1]
• The meaning of the exclamation mark in mathematical notation, where it represents factorial rather than punctuation ^[2]
• The potential confusion that might arise from the dual meaning of the exclamation mark in this context

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The statement's ambiguity stems from:

• The placement of the exclamation mark, which could be misinterpreted as simple punctuation rather than its mathematical meaning as factorial ^[2]
• The lack of parentheses to make the order of operations more clear to readers
• The potential for readers to incorrectly perform the calculations from left to right without following proper mathematical order of operations ^[1]

This case demonstrates how mathematical notation can be technically correct while still being potentially misleading due to formatting and presentation choices.