48÷2(9+3) = ???

[Piscine]

Most of us here are American, so it's pemdas on our end.

 

[EntoCraig]

The problem is misleading. A true mathematical equation should denote the order.

48÷2(9+3) should either be 48÷[2(9+3)] or (48÷2)x(9+3). Specification allows you to find the desired answer.

The original equation leaves it up to the problem solver to decide what order is most important based on what they have been taught is correct or what they believe is correct.

Yay Math.

 

[Jenni]

Can't there only be one correct answer in mathmatics? It's a pretty precise science and the answer is a pretty important part?

 

[Thalan]

There IS only one correct answer
48/2(9+3)
48/2(12) is 2( ) not 2*, and its not the same
48/24 =2

 

[Piscine]

There is only one correct answer in my eyes. The only way to get an answer of 2 is to interpret the problem as a fraction, in which case 2 would be correct. For the problem, as written in the original post, the answer is definitely 288.

 

[Thalan]

There is only one correct answer in my eyes. The only way to get an answer of 2 is to interpret the problem as a fraction, in which case 2 would be correct. For the problem, as written in the original post, the answer is definitely 288.

No because 2(12)=/=2x12. The 2 is connected to the parentheses and therefor must be done first. thats the whole point of the order of operations, you have to remove parentheses from the equation before ANYTHING else. It does not count as multiplication and that means it not only comes before division but before exponents as well.

It all boils down to pointless theory since problems like this dont actually occur outside of someone expressing an equation, but theres still only one right way to do it.

 

[jfoxx81]

its 288!!

 

[yogurt_21]

No because 2(12)=/=2x12. The 2 is connected to the parentheses and therefor must be done first. thats the whole point of the order of operations, you have to remove parentheses from the equation before ANYTHING else. It does not count as multiplication and that means it not only comes before division but before exponents as well.

It all boils down to pointless theory since problems like this dont actually occur outside of someone expressing an equation, but theres still only one right way to do it.

even if it was written 48/2 x (9+3) the answer would still be 2. The order of operations refers to the item within the parenthesis be done first, not items "attached." They also put multiplication before division and addition before subtraction.

so no matter what you multiply before you divide.

 

[Lepisosteus platyrhincus]

yea, that's what i was thinking but didn't know how to say it, you have to get rid of the ( ) first

this^

its 2

There is only one correct answer in my eyes. The only way to get an answer of 2 is to interpret the problem as a fraction, in which case 2 would be correct. For the problem, as written in the original post, the answer is definitely 288.

you must do inside the () first then get rid of them. thus 2

 

[Piscine]

No because 2(12)=/=2x12. The 2 is connected to the parentheses and therefor must be done first. thats the whole point of the order of operations, you have to remove parentheses from the equation before ANYTHING else. It does not count as multiplication and that means it not only comes before division but before exponents as well.

It all boils down to pointless theory since problems like this dont actually occur outside of someone expressing an equation, but theres still only one right way to do it.

The first step in the order of operation includes only inside the parenthesis, and not the numbers attached to it. After the part of the equation inside the parenthesis is done, you resume the order of operations using the parenthesis as a basis for multiplication. This is how I was taught, and what I believe to be correct. Problems like this occur daily if you are making excel spreadsheets (even though excel is retarded) & dealing with money and statistics.