48÷2(9+3) = ?

Sorry but the FRACTION is the primary function of this equation - not division or multiplication.

That is what I was attempting to explain.

This converts to this in simple math/algebra (48÷2)(9+3)= x ...and that is not the way the origninal equation is written.

Given the equation 48÷2Χ12 how would you solve it?

Algebra equation it becomes 48/2x12. You have to account there is no division symbol - only fractions.

arkhi said:

Given the equation 48÷2Χ12 how would you solve it?

Just work simply from left to right.

Hopalong X said:

Sorry but the FRACTION is the primary function of this equation - not division or multiplication.

That is what I was attempting to explain.

This converts to this in simple math/algebra (48÷2)(9+3)= x ...and that is not the way the origninal equation is written.

And the notation you used isn't how the equation is written, because as I said, you're giving multiplication precedence over division, which results in the equation being written as 48/(2(9+3)). ÷ and / both simply mean divide, too. Doesn't change anything.

The expression is computed as




The main problem with it though is just how different people follow different standards. It is an ambiguous equation, because the way it's written should be avoided, and should be written as you said (48/2)(9+3) to make it crystal clear.

Everlong said:

Just work simply from left to right.

Well, that answers everything, right?

*Just a thought, would it make more sense if it were converted to have the same operator altogether?

e.g.
48Χ½Χ12 <-- 48Χ½=48÷2
(48)(½)(12)
(12)(48)(½) <-commutative property


Everything leads to 288

48 / 2 (9 + 3):

1. Parentheses: (9 + 3) = 12.
2. Exponents: none. (Actually there are: (48^1) / (2^1)((9^1) + (3^1)), but we can ignore them)
3. Multiplication: 2 * 12.
4. Division: 48 / 24 = 2.


Edit: Wow, only 63.89% of the respondents have answered this correctly?

Win7User512 said:

48 / 2 (9 + 3):

1. Parentheses: (9 + 3) = 12.
2. Exponents: none. (Actually there are: (48^1) / (2^1)((9^1) + (3^1)), but we can ignore them)
3. Multiplication: 2 * 12.
4. Division: 48 / 24 = 2.


Edit: Wow, only 63.89% of the respondents have answered this correctly?

Why are you giving multiplication precedence over division if they're the only two operands left after the parenthesis?

Everlong said:

Win7User512 said:

48 / 2 (9 + 3):

1. Parentheses: (9 + 3) = 12.
2. Exponents: none. (Actually there are: (48^1) / (2^1)((9^1) + (3^1)), but we can ignore them)
3. Multiplication: 2 * 12.
4. Division: 48 / 24 = 2.


Edit: Wow, only 63.89% of the respondents have answered this correctly?

Why are you giving multiplication precedence over division if they're the only two operands left after the parenthesis?

Ah, correct that when they are the remaining explicit operators, they are performed left to right.

I was thinking 48 / 2(12), while typing 48 / 2 * 12.

Consider this oddity, courtesy of purplemath.com:

Whatever the answer the question started quite a debate and I got lost after the question so bye bye.