English Person or a Math Person?

[shadowkat]

It's Monday and I've gotten more done than I thought, considering I can't seem to get myself to focus for long on anything. What is it about Mondays?
Easily distracted. Friday's - I'm exhausted.

Anywho...one of the chief deputy directors came by with this question - which he was asked on an interview once:

Is it:

Two plus two is five

or

Two plus two are five

[Note 2 plus 2 equals five was not an option.]

Comments

[annegables.livejournal.com]

So did he answer:
1) Grammatically speaking - the second is correct or
2) Mathematically speaking - neither is correct?

Is there a preferred answer to this question on a job application?

[atpo-onm.livejournal.com]

It would depend on the context, who was speaking. Depending, I might use either.

Why does this make me think of Orwell's 1984, where his torturer was eventually able to convince Winston Smith that indeed, the answer was whatever the state wanted it to be?