48÷2(9+3) = ???

[powerman 5000]

It's written sort of ambiguously. The way it is written, it appears that the denominator is one term. or better yet, that whole term IS the denominator. 48 / 2 * (9+3) would make a world of difference. It would be much more clear if it were a word problem.

 

[The Prodigalson]

It's written sort of ambiguously. The way it is written, it appears that the denominator is one term. 48 / 2 * (9+3) would make a world of difference. It would be much more clear if it were a word problem.

It's clear as it stand. You have to follow the order of operation. Parenthesis go first. There are no exponents so the next step woul be to multiply then divide.

 

[major pain]

It's clear as it stand. You have to follow the order of operation. Parenthesis go first. There are no exponents so the next step woul be to multiply then divide.

This is where people are mistaken also.

MD in P E MD AS are the same tier. You work this left to right. If a division component of a problem is there before a multiplication component, then you work the division first. You dont ALWAYS work multiplication first. In school problems are probably written as to not have this type of scenario matter however.

The ambiguity of the problem lies SOLELY in whether the (9+3) is part of the denominator. The symbol used in the problem is what should determine this, but because we dont know the intent (other than to troll the internet) of the person who created this problem there are 2 possible answers. Anyone claiming people stupid in favor of one answer or the other probably doesnt understand what I just said.

 

[HustleThaDon]

Lol Damn y'all niggas fuckin up

 

[glowy]

Why are the people who are saying 2 doing all the name calling? :0

 

[powerman 5000]

This is where people are mistaken also.

MD in P E MD AS are the same tier. You work this left to right. If a division component of a problem is there before a multiplication component, then you work the division first. You dont ALWAYS work multiplication first. In school problems are probably written as to not have this type of scenario matter however.

The ambiguity of the problem lies SOLELY in whether the (9+3) is part of the denominator. The symbol used in the problem is what should determine this, but because we dont know the intent (other than to troll the internet) of the person who created this problem there are 2 possible answers. Anyone claiming people stupid in favor of one answer or the other probably doesnt understand what I just said.

Exactly this..... You just don't jump to the middle of a problem just because you see a multiplication sign. Like reading a book, do you just jump to the verbs because they show action and you want to find out what's going on? Hell no. There's more to this than some numbers on a page. Any other information would be useful. A situation, idk maybe some units, hell, show work on how you got to this point of the problem. There could easily be an mistake then we'd all be looking stupid, ready to go to war trying to solve a problem with a built in error.

 

[The Prodigalson]

The question isn't really formed right like someone said earlier. The distributive property of multiplication shows 2(9+3) is an entire term and cannot be broken up.

Also if you write the problem as

48
_______

2 (9+3)

 

[major pain]

The question isn't really formed right like someone said earlier. The distributive property of multiplication shows 2(9+3) is an entire term and cannot be broken up.

The question seems designed specifically to spark these arguments. Its not a question one would see on a test because it is poorly written. You are right about the distribution. But thats not in question with the problem. If its ( 48 over 2 ) all multiplied by (9 + 3 ) distribution does not apply. If its (48) over 2(9 + 3) then distribution applies.

 

[The Prodigalson]

Man fug this problem. I put the equation in two different calculators and got 2 on one and 288 on the other. Shit is like that piece of paper that say flip this to read the other Side and you turn it over and it says the same damn thing on the other side.

 

[whar67]

1. 48/2(9+3) ... Starting equation resolve parans this leads too
2. 48/2(12) ... starting on left resolve first division or multiplication this leads too
3. 24(12) ... starting on left resolve first division or multiplication this leads too
4. 288

The 2s presented on images of calculators are mistakes and bugs in their code

If the OP wanted the answer to be 2 this equation would be needed

48/(2(9+3))

If the OP wanted to reach 219 this would be the equation

48/2*9+3

If the OP wanted to reach 5.666... then this would be the equation

48/(2*9)+3

 

[Gnawledgeable]

The answer is 2. I thought 288 at first too.

You multiply number outside parenthesis with the numbers inside it which is 2x9, then 2x3. You'll get 18+6=24 then divide 48/24 to get 2.

 

[whar67]

The answer is 2. I thought 288 at first too.

You multiply number outside parenthesis with the numbers inside it which is 2x9, then 2x3. You'll get 18+6=24 then divide 48/24 to get 2.

The numbers outside the parentheses are 48/2 or 24. you could also write it this way

24*9 + 24*3
216+ 72
288

The answer will always be 288

 

[whar67]

Try thinking of the problem verbally ...

48/2(9+3)

Forty eight divided by two times nine plus three or this

Fourty eight divided by two times twelve

While not the mathematical reason simple logic should get you to 288

 

[huey]

why is this so hard? cant believe its a triple plat thread

 

[whar67]

have you taken or heard of the GRE?

I have never taken this test but have heard of it. Regardless whether I graduated high school or not the answer remains 288. This is based on simple math and understanding the process of solving a simple equation.

I believe some of the confusion, both in people and in the calculators, lie in the 2(9+3) portion of the equation. It seems this receives elevated preference over 2*(9+3) however all of these statements are mathematically equal

a(b+c)
a * (b+c)
ab+ bc

In the case of this equation a=24

 

[The Prodigalson]

It a debatable answer because the problem isn't written correctly to cause confusion. Everyone is write. I got 2 you got 288.

 

[The Prodigalson]

Isn't 2(9+3) a complete term? When did they start breaking those up?

 

[powerman 5000]

I have never taken this test but have heard of it. Regardless whether I graduated high school or not the answer remains 288. This is based on simple math and understanding the process of solving a simple equation.

I believe some of the confusion, both in people and in the calculators, lie in the 2(9+3) portion of the equation. It seems this receives elevated preference over 2*(9+3) however all of these statements are mathematically equal

a(b+c)
a * (b+c)
ab+ bc

In the case of this equation a=24

indeed... but to get to that point, you have to assume that the (9+3) is part of the denominator. The way the problem is written it is unclear. If the denominator were meant to be one term , a good mathematician would have written it (2(9+3)). If not it would have been written (48/2)(9+3). Thus eliminating all ambiguity. Even 48/2*12 would be more clear.

 

[konceptjones]

The numbers outside the parentheses are 48/2 or 24. you could also write it this way

24*9 + 24*3

216+ 72

288

The answer will always be 288

The way you do this problem per the rules you SHOULD have learned in high school algebra is as follows:

Always process the equations inside parenthesis FIRST.

48/2(9+3) = 48/2(12)

Next, process multiplication in order from left to right:

48/2(12) = 48/2*12 = 48/24

Finally, process the division

48/24 = 2

This is the answer.

 

[valdez21]

It's 288.

48÷2(9+3) IS THE SAME AS 48/2(9+3)

Yall are looking at it as if it was (48)/2(9+3) . In that case, the answer is 2.

Using the PEMDAS method, you solve what's in the parenthesis first...(9+3) = 12
Once that is done, THEY GO AWAY leaving you with...
48/2*12
from there follow PEMDAS going left to right...