48÷2(9+3) = ????

48÷2(9+3)

  • 288

    Votes: 127 43.6%
  • 2

    Votes: 152 52.2%
  • idunnololdog.jpg

    Votes: 12 4.1%

  • Total voters
    291
headasplode.jpg
The TI-85 has a parsing error that will cause this, you can get an update for it though.
 


Was already posted:

"The general consensus among math people is that "multiplication by juxtaposition" (that is, multiplying by just putting things next to each other, rather than using the "×" sign) indicates that the juxtaposed values must be multiplied together before processing other operations"

To translate it - second brackets may be implied by the person who wrote this equation.
Thats why the confusion.

I've never heard nor was taught that 2(x) takes precedence over other multiplcation/division strings in an equation. 2(x) and 2 * (X) are the same thing (with the former, you're just not writing the dot when you multiply a number by a bracketed equation/number).
 
Was already posted:

"The general consensus among math people is that "multiplication by juxtaposition" (that is, multiplying by just putting things next to each other, rather than using the "×" sign) indicates that the juxtaposed values must be multiplied together before processing other operations"

To translate it - second brackets may be implied by the person who wrote this equation.
Thats why the confusion.

Could you please cite a source that talks about implied brackets? I've never heard of brackets being implied nor can I find anything mentioning them.
 
Also,

<?php
echo 48/2*(9+3);
?>

php says 288, javascript confirms:

<script type="text/javascript">
alert(48/2*(9+3));
</script>

This is where the confusion arises.

You are writing the equation in the problem incorrectly. It is not 48/2*(9+3) it is 48/2(9+3)

The fact that the 2 is right next to the brackets means that if the juxtaposition rule applies (or exists) then the 2 would need to be multiplied by the (9+3) BEFORE the division happens. This is the problem that everyone is having in understanding that the answer is not as simple as it first may seem.

I actually believe that the juxtaposition rule must exist as if you look at the following it would make no sense if it did not

10x/5x

According to the juxtaposition rule the answer would be 2

but if you ignore it then the equation should read

10*x/5*x

and if you work that out left to right then
it equates to 2x^2 which isn't right.
 
lol. Those saying 2 are being thrown off by the ÷ symbol.

Look at it like this:

48/2 * (9+3)

That's the same as [48(9+3)]/2 = 288

I cant believe this has 3 pages of arguing.
 
Where are the brackets????

() is parentheses
[] that is brackets
a number or variable by () (e.g. x(a+1) is the same as x * (a+1)
 

Math Forum - Ask Dr. Math

"Calculators have somewhat different needs than mathematicians, since they have to take input linearly, one character after another, so they are forced to
make a decision about it. On the TI Web site I learned that they
deliberately put this "feature" into the TI 82, and then took it out
of the TI 83, probably because they decided it was not a standard rule
and would confuse people. Take a look at their explanation:"