48÷2(9+3) = ??

[DaveP]

If the problem were stated using variables it would be. a/b(x+y)

I think the b is associated with the parenthesis. It's an ambiguous phrase. a / (b(x+y))= OR (a/b) (x+y) would yield two different answers.

 

[Lightgeoduck]

no b is not associated with the parenthesis... but you are right a/(b(x+y)) is different than (a/b)(x+y) would yield different answers....

but

(a/b)(x+y) and a/b(x+y) wont






fyi: this thread won't last as long as the bodybuilder's thread.... just to let you all know

 

[Lightgeoduck]

Brackets and parenthesis first then MDAS is the key. Multiply Divide Add Subtract (the parenthesis gets simplified first)

48 / 2(9+3)=
48 / (2*9 + 2*3)=48/24=2

The 2 is part of the distributive property of the expression. 2(x+y) = 2x+2y. You can't operate with the 2 until the parenthesis is simplified.

It's 2.

you are partially right but based off of the OPs problem and your last statement it would be

a/b(x) + a/b(y)

which would still give you 288

 

[Lightgeoduck]

My last post in this thread......... (famous last words)

 

[Hoosier]

It's an odd format.

I use this calculator that follows the rules of math automatically, but it gives 2 different answers depending on how I enter it.

If I enter it as 48/2*(9+3) it gives 288.

If I enter it as 48/2(9+3) it gives 2.

I see this problem has about a 50/50 split on a physics forum too which is rather odd as the most logical arguements have 288 as a result.

My calculator assumes that if there is no multiplication sign between #&( then that function is treated like it is paranthetical. Which does not apply to this poorly written formula.

So the answer is 288.

 

[PlanetScribbles]

I just typed it into excel, exactly as expressed in the OP, and the answer is 288
Excel is not wrong, answer is 288. Simples.

 

[lynleestar]

hehe I'm no good at math so I believe both answers

 

[rfun6]

we learned please excuse my dear aunt fanny. You do you math in that order.
P
E
M
D
A
F
Does that help at all ? It was just a trick to help us to remember.

 

[toto1013]

Order of operations...
Parentheses, brackets, etc... first
Multipication & division in order they appear from left..

48/2(9+3)
48/2x12
24x12
288 Answer

in order for answer to be 2
48/[2(9+3)]
48/(2x12)
48/24
2

 

[AvalonMyst]

we learned please excuse my dear aunt fanny. You do you math in that order.
P
E
M
D
A
F
Does that help at all ? It was just a trick to help us to remember.

F?

P,E,M,D,A,S
Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally
Parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction. Can't mess with basic algebra.

The answer is clearly 2.
;p

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[toto1013]

F?

P,E,M,D,A,S
Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally
Parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction. Can't mess with basic algebra.

The answer is clearly 2.
;p

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally...
Basic Algebra...
Parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction.
Calculations must be done from left to right
Multiply and divide in the order the operations occur

To me the division occurs before the multiplication the way the problem is written....

 

[AvalonMyst]

Math isn't like reading. U need to multiply first in order to divide. Like u need to add first in order to subtract. There is no left to right. Actually if u look at it. Some equations are right to left. As in addition subtraction and multiplication. Division is left to right.


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[Vapor Pete]

The answer is 10.

-VP

 

[alldayvape]

According to my CPA it's 288.

 

[AvalonMyst]

LOL! We sound just as bad as Abbott and Costello. Hahahahaha!


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[DaveP]

There's a poll over on 48÷2(9+3) (The name of the thread at www.physicsforums.com)

It's split 28/27 over 2 and 288. Most agree that the form is ambiguous. There's a fight over left/right and PEMDAS. Some even posted that PEMDAS gave them a different answer. All are frustrated.

I was taught that parenthesis need to be resolved first, then exponents, followed by multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction. My wife just went through an online math course as part of her diploma program and it taught that also.

I think that the same people who started teaching collective plural in English had something to do with the inability to solve this problem. ex. ECF are vapers (wrong ...) Yes, IT is a vaper's forum, but ECF is a singular entity composed of a group of people (a collective singular). If you say that "The people at ECF are vapers", this is a correct statement. All collective nouns are singular in the U.S.. In the UK, they are plural. I guess it is one of the protest remnants of our split from England.

http://ontext.com/tag/grammar-police/page/2/

 

[Safira]

fyi: this thread won't last as long as the bodybuilder's thread.... just to let you all know

Are you sure about that?


BTW Multiplication and Division at the same time, from left to right.

P
E
MD
AS

 

[Lightgeoduck]

Are you sure about that?

Well, I am sure it can be prevented


I think the only way this thread will survive past 50 pages is if it goes "off topic" otherwise it is just rediculous, don't you think?

 

[mwahle1]

The answer is 288. Rules of Order in algebra; 1) work the parentheses first 2) work multipication and/or division as it appears Left to right.
48÷2(9+3) = 24*12=288

Yes, exactly!

 

[rfun6]

ha their right. It is sally not fanny. LOL. yep I agree the answer is 2.