48÷2(9+3) = ?

This question has caused a lot of debate on the net lately about the right answer. Some arguing that 288 is the answer while some say it's 2. Which one is right in your opinion?

If you follow the order of algebraic operations it's not even a matter of opinion.

http://www.math.com/school/subject2/lessons/S2U1L2GL.html

1. First do all operations that lie inside parentheses.
2. Next, do any work with exponents or radicals.
3. Working from left to right, do all multiplication and division.
4. Finally, working from left to right, do all addition and subtraction.

So it's 48÷2(9+3)

1. (9+3)=12
2. none
3. 48÷2= 24 and 24*12=288

Actually the parentheses is tied to the 2 in this equation.

48 ÷ 2(9+3)=
48 ÷ (18+6)=
48 ÷ 24= 2

I got 2.

OU wrote:

I got 2.

I always thought you were smart.

The answer is 288. I don't know where the debate comes from but I've seen this on multiple boards the last few days

freakzilla316ftw wrote:

Actually the parentheses is tied to the 2 in this equation.

this is irrelevant. Order of operations clearly states to perform all multiplication and division working from left to right. This means the division of 48 by 2 occurs before the multiplication the product of 12 in the parenthesis.

48 ÷ 2(9+3)= (48/2) * (9+3)

It's 288

This is 5th grade stuff here.

LOL dumb shit people think of, but

Order of operations would be correct as stated above

Parenthesis first

Then left to right

48÷2*(9+3 or 12) = 288

I can see how it could trick someone though

fuck math

I thought it was 2.

I thought you did inside the parenthesis then worked left to right

I got 288

It's 2 people.

If you replace the 2 with x the question becomes 48 % X(9+3) = ?
You do the bracket first 48 % (9x + 3x) = ?
That becomes 48 % 12X = ?
That becomes 4 % X = ?
Replace X with 2
That becomes 4 % 2 = ?
The answer is 2.

Just because you were taught/insist on using juxtaposition and incorrectly use the law of distribution doesn't make it 2. simply put the equation is poorly written but at the end of the day it is equal to (48÷2)(9+3). Your trying to change the equation itself by inserting an entirely new set of parenthesis and changing it from 48÷2(9+3) to 48÷(2(9+3)).

Just because it was deliberately written in a manner to cause confusion doesn't change the proper mathematical process involved in solving it.

Wolfram Alpha is on the side of 288

/thread

No. If 2=x and you substitute the 2 with x you will get what I said. It doesn't change anything

Wolfram Alpha is wrong.

Answers are nearly split 50/50 everywhere.

http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=488334

http://www.cybergamer.com.au/forums/thread/223852/482%2893%29-=-/

The Order of operations is not. Also, we are not solving for X here, there is no X. We are also not finding the common denominator here. It's a basic algebraic equation. As it's written we must solve whats INSIDE the parenthesis, and then move on to solving multiplication and division on a single tier from left to right. PEMDAS is a mnemonic and not meant to impose an absolute but remind someone of the order of operations. P>E>M>D>A>S is not how it was intended to be used.

freakzilla316ftw wrote:

Answers are nearly split 50/50 everywhere.

http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=488334

http://www.cybergamer.com.au/forums/thread/223852/482%2893%29-=-/

People fail math all over the place.

Ludo wrote:

The Order of operations is not. Also, we are not solving for X here, there is no X. We are also not finding the common denominator here. It's a basic algebraic equation. As it's written we must solve whats INSIDE the parenthesis, and then move on to solving multiplication and division on a single tier from left to right. PEMDAS is a mnemonic and not meant to impose an absolute but remind someone of the order of operations. P>E>M>D>A>S is not how it was intended to be used.

Why can't you make it so you solve X? The equation should be the same and the process the same.

Because solving for X and solving for the answer without any expressions missing shown value are reaching toward two different goals. To solve for X your looking for the value of X, instead of trying to figure out what the end result of 48÷2(9+3) is.

Ludo is right on this

If you replace the 2 with X the question becomes 48 % X(9+3) = 2
You do the bracket first 48 % (9x + 3x) = 2
That becomes 48 % 12X = 2
That becomes 4 % X = 2
This makes sense

If you replace the 2 with X the question becomes 48 % X(9+3) = 288
You do the bracket first 48 % (9x + 3x) = 288
That becomes 48 % 12X = 288
That becomes 4 % X = 288
This doesn't

freakzilla316ftw wrote:

If you replace the 2 with X the question becomes 48 % X(9+3) = 2
You do the bracket first 48 % (9x + 3x) = 2
That becomes 48 % 12X = 2
That becomes 4 % X = 2
This makes sense

If you replace the 2 with X the question becomes 48 % X(9+3) = 288
You do the bracket first 48 % (9x + 3x) = 288
That becomes 48 % 12X = 288
That becomes 4 % X = 288
This doesn't

Again your misusing the law of distribution here. Just because an x or * is missing from the equation doesn't automatically associate 2 with (9+3) and tie them together to be solved before division on the term that matches 2.

freakzilla316ftw wrote:

If you replace the 2 with X the question becomes 48 % X(9+3) = 2
You do the bracket first 48 % (9x + 3x) = 2
That becomes 48 % 12X = 2
That becomes 4 % X = 2
This makes sense

If you replace the 2 with X the question becomes 48 % X(9+3) = 288
You do the bracket first 48 % (9x + 3x) = 288
That becomes 48 % 12X = 288
That becomes 4 % X = 288
This doesn't

The reason the bottom set you posted doesn't make sense is because you've assumed that 2 is somehow defaulting to be multiplied by the values inside the parenthesis. This is not correct. It was written 48÷2(9+3) not 48÷(2(9+3)).