48÷2(9+3)

[Nephthys]

Something We're doing on Facebook right now. Huge debate. Is the answer 288 or 2 please show your work, theories for the correct answer.

[Nesh]

The right answer is 288.
You always divide or multipy first...Then The number you got (48÷2=24) you multiply it with the first number which here is nine (24x9) and then with the second one(24x3) and you get 216+72=288
That is all ;3

[Furore]

288.
Me being a lazy SOB, I entered it brackets and all into my fave scientific calculator.

[GameGeeks]

Yup, like Avr said. You always divide or multiply first. No real theories needed. Only way you can get two is if you wrongly multiply first.

[Nephthys]

I say the answer is 2 according the rule of PEMDAS meaning you start with what is in parenthesis. The
(9+3) which is 12.
then multiplication which is 2*12=24 Then Division which is
48/12=2

[Meteorkeeper]

AAARRGGGG math get it away!! get it away!!! *bursts into flames*

Seriously though it's without a doubt 288.
So says the mighty laws of mathematics.

[GameGeeks]

Um, no. Yes you do what's in the parentheses first, but after that you go in order of operations which starts at the beginning of the equation which would be 48/2 which is 24. Then you times that by 12 which is 288. To get 2 the equation would need to look like 48/(2(9+3)).

[Eris]

I say it's ambiguous, as I take multiplication and division to have the same precedence. You could either mean

48 / (2(9+3))
or
(48 / 2) * (9+3)

If ever you write an expression that's ambiguous like this, your problem isn't how do I evaluate it, it's that you've written an ambiguous expression.

For sanity's sake, write out the fraction (instead of using ÷ or /) if it's more than just a fraction of two numbers.

[GameGeeks]

Or the other way Eris put it. Wouldn't have bothered with the edit if I had seen Eris's post.

[Skylar1]

Do you really need a calculator for this..?

[Nephthys]

true but to get 288 the equation would have to look like this (48/2) (9+3)=

[Eris]

In essence, what I want you to take home is


Where the last suggestion is to just evaluate it. It's simple arithmetic. Tiny children can do it.

[GameGeeks]

On second thought. I miss read Eris's post. I don't see how it's ambiguous when nothing else was stated making it a simple mathematical equation. You do what in the parentheses first and then since you're left with just multiplication and division you go by what comes first which is division so the only logical answer is 288.

EDIT: I don't get where you're getting the fraction from since she used the division sign. I just don't know how to do that on a keyboard so I've been using / since it's an often accepted symbol for division.

[animeyay]

I'd say 288 since multiplication and division are in the same order of operation, so unless another pair of parentheses are there, then you move from left to right.

[DOOM!]

Just use the simple logic: multiplications precede divisions and parantheses always get calculated first.
If you mean to start polemics about the above stated, then it means math language is faulty.

[Nephthys]

Just use the simple logic: multiplications precede divisions and parantheses always get calculated first.
If you mean to start polemics about the above stated, then it means math language is faulty.

Multiplication does not precede division they are interchangeable.

[Nesh]

Overall, It'll be better if you got an assignment, that says if you need 2 go with parantheses or multiplications & divisions first!!

[Nephthys]

Overall, It'll be better if you got an assignment, that says if you need 2 go with parantheses or multiplications & divisions first!!

Parenthesis is always first.

[Nesh]

What if the assingnment doesn't aquires Parenthesis??
What if the real answer is 288 instead of 2 and you write down 2??...Or maybe 2 instead os 288 and you write 2??

-No wonder you're debating this on Facebook!Afterall it has two right answers...This continues to go around in never ending circles!!

[GameGeeks]

There would be no math teacher that'd give an assignment that says ignore one of the basic laws of math. Just wont happen. The only answer is 288. If you get any other answer you're doing it wrong. There's no two right answers. It's basic math.

48÷2(9+3)
(9+3)=12
48÷2x3
48÷2=24
24x12=288

If these two line are equal, then 9 = 0.

[Nephthys]

You have to use your distribution properties remember that multiplication and division are interchange able.
Therefore using those rules you would distribute the 2.
The equation as it is written is 42/2 (9+3)
9+3=12
distribute the 2 x 12= 24
48/24=2

[Nesh]

Well I'm so glad AF has such terrific minds ^^
....If I ever need to solve a math probler you wouldn't mind helpin me right??

[GameGeeks]

No, they're not. They just both come before addition and subtraction. You have to do the division first since it comes before the multiplication. The distributive property is used to break something up. Not switch things around.

3x26
3x20=60
3x6=18
60+18=78
3x26=78

[╬Karami Mew~Meow]

oooh~ Mathematics <3 x.x

Please excuse my dear aunt sally ~ PEMDAS ~ Parenthesis, Exponents, Multiplication or Division, addition or subtraction.
Don't over complicate things o.O [Though I shouldn't be talking -.-]
That's all I'm gonna say since everyone has answered it already, and even explained it in so much detail xD

[Nephthys]

No, they're not. They just both come before addition and subtraction. You have to do the division first since it comes before the multiplication. The distributive property is used to break something up. Not switch things around.

3x26
3x20=60
3x6=18
60+18=78
3x26=78

Yes, yes they are. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_operations. Multiplication and division are of equal precedence.

Mnemonics are often used to help students remember the rules, but the rules taught by the use of acronyms can be misleading. In Canada the acronym BEDMAS is common. It stands for Brackets, Exponents, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction. In other English speaking countries, Brackets may be called Parentheses, or symbols of inclusion and Exponentiation may be called either Indices, Powers or Orders, and since multiplication and division are of equal precedence, M and D are often interchanged, leading to such acronyms as BIMDAS, BODMAS, BOMDAS, BERDMAS, PERDMAS, PEMDAS, and BPODMAS.