And in any real world calculation there should be some context to guide you. For example, if two families each consisting of 2 parents and two children are coming to tea and you only have 8 biscuits. The answer to how many biscuits will each guest be able to eat is obviously 1 rather than 16.
I would like to lead with the confession that I am not a fan of Math. Flunked algebra once and passed the second time with a D--. I also can whip up a wicked spreadsheet every now and again. Go figure!
With that said, I truly appreciate this particular point in this discussion about an equation in the title.
For example, I could argue that there is no absolute in mathematics as it relates to reading a series of symbols left to right, right to left, up, down, all around. Yes, left to right is the more common practice, but is there truly a different outcome if the equation is worked from right to left? The question mark was used to represent the variable outcome of doing something to the left of the equal sign and its result does not impact the read of the equation.
So the parenthesis tell me to do that action before multiplying the result with the 2. Without any more of the string to the left, the question mark would represent 8. And yes, 8 divided by 8 equals 1.
My going fancy-schmancy on this musing of mine is to put on display how I was taught to "process" a math equation using numbers and fractions and rules.
In other words, I was taught the 2 prior to the parenthesis must be "decoded" into its simplest form before being put into action with the division of the results of the sub-equation.
So here's a question.
In this world of automated algorithms we all now live in, who knows how many algorithms are doing equations with a left to right read versus any other variation?
[and then the bass player walks away from their words and towards their instrument of choice, unaware of all that was transpiring as the stage goes dark]