I found all of the name calling in here hilarious over a simple poorly organized equation. I spoke to a good friend of mine who is a math instructor and has been for about 30 years, he said that inside the parenthesis has to resolve first, but that it is no longer taught that the parenthesis have any hierarchy when meant as multiplication. So, therefore, the answer is 288. The way I was taught was that the parenthesis had first priority, that is only the case these days with the numbers inside. So once you add the 9+3, essentiall the equation changes and the parenthesis can be replaced by a * 48/2*12 or 24*12..... Essentially the 2(12)......resolves to 2*12...making it come up the right way. My guess is that someone wrote this knowing that old school methodology would come into play, and get folks to arguing about it. Mission accomplished ! DD
Wow you are right. 2 has overtaken! Is more than 50% of the world braindead? After this internet phenomenon, I am convinced so. Smmfh.
288 right? 48/2*(9+3) Do PEMDAS in a loop... Going left to right... P --> 48/2*12 left to right... D --> 24*12 left to right... M --> 288 Please vote 288!!!
This problem lies in the interpretation of the problem. It lies in the choice of sign, the ÷ signifies that the person who wrote the problem wants the entire problem to be treated from straight left to right, rather than as a fraction. If it was instead written such that 48/2(9+3) The answer would indeed be 2 because I believe that he wanted a fraction. But since he uses the ÷, it leads me to believe that the author wants to use it as a straight up divided by symbol. Now, on the other hand, the other interpretation comes from the bottom, where the question is whether or not the author intended by putting the 2(9+3) to make those two statements together. In that case, the answer would also be 2.
would you still say it was 288 if it was written like this? 48 ------- 2(9+3) That's what the "/" signifies, in my opinion.
it's 288. but i can see where people can get 2 from although it's wrong. very poorly written math question. this thread means we're all fairly educated b/c we're discussing a freakin' MATH problem but the proper way is: you do (9+3) first. then you go from left to right.
and if someone does the multiplication first or goes from right to left, then he's simply wrong.. and it has nothing to do with the question being poorly written..
The answer to 48/2(9+3) is still 288. 48/2(9+3) 48/2(12) 24(12) 288 It's beyond belief that this is a discussion.
People are confusing multiplication/division with addition/subtraction. In school, we usually see equations like 48 + 2 (9 +3) where we DON'T add the 48 and 2 first but instead just factor in the 2. However, when it's multiplication/division, we combine the numbers into one term. 48*2(9 + 3) 48/2(9 + 3) And how the freak is '2' winning in this damn poll!??
I know. Especially since a consensus seems reached in the comments section and 288 was winning this morning. People confuse the hell out of me.
Police Eat Many Donuts At Shipleys or Parenthesis Exponents Multiplication Division Addition Subtraction 48/2(9+3) 48/2(12) 48/24 2
This has already been argued. Multiplication and division are on the same level. People who think it's a simple multiplication before division all the time don't have any math sense.
