48÷2(9+3) = 288
48÷2(12) = 288
24x12 = 288
Division is to be done first before proceeding to multiplication since division is basically at the right. Multipication and division are equal in status in Pemdas, and Division is to be done first in the Standard Order of Operations( SOOO ). What you do is simply start from the left and go to the right. Thus both rule simplify both to 288!
Is that right folks? i'm still a kid...
Last edited by kenmdotexe; 16 May 2011 at 03:10.
It is not that division takes precedence, but when there is ambiguity (with operators of equal precedence) then the calculation is performed left to right:
48÷2(9+3) do the parens first
48÷2*12 equal precedence operators, go from left to right
24*12 =
288
Division has the same precedence as multiplication since, after all, A/B*C = A*(1/B)*C
The best way to write that expression so it is not misunderstood, is (48/2)*(9+3)
Last edited by GeneO; 16 May 2011 at 13:15.
Google likes (48 ÷ 2) * (9 + 3) = 288
—That's good enough for me.
It's kind of a pointless argument because the syntax is incorrect. You cannot imply multiplication of numbers by writing them next to each other - otherwise 23 could equal 6. This is true even when one of the numbers is an exclusively numerical expression in parentheses, so you cannot write 2(9+3). You could write 2(9a+3), but not 2(9+3). You'd have to write 2*(9+3). So neither 2 nor 288 is correct because the question is not valid.
Despite all that, I voted for 2
The syntax is fine. That is how it is done in mathematics all the time - omission of a multiplication sign when the number is multiplying a quantity in parentheses. In fact, usually when there is no ambiguity, like 2x=y, the multiplication operator is omitted.It's kind of a pointless argument because the syntax is incorrect. You cannot imply multiplication of numbers by writing them next to each other - otherwise 23 could equal 6. This is true even when one of the numbers is an exclusively numerical expression in parentheses, so you cannot write 2(9+3). You could write 2(9a+3), but not 2(9+3). You'd have to write 2*(9+3). So neither 2 nor 288 is correct because the question is not valid.
Despite all that, I voted for 2
LOL. This problem reminds me of this:
Let a=b
a²=ab <-multiply both sides by a
a²-b²=ab-b² <-subtract both sides with b²
(a+b)(a-b)=b(a-b) <-factor out
(a+b)=b <-divide both sides with (a-b)
a+a=a <-since a=b...
2a=a <-simplify and divide both sides with a
2=1
Quote