48÷2(9+3) = ??
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Order of operations is BEDMAS (brackets, exponents, division, multiplication, addition, subtraction), therefore:
48÷2(9+3) (work out equation inside brackets first)
= 48÷2(12) (work out to eliminate brackets)
= 48÷24 (solve simplified equation) = 2
The answer is 2!
Edit: ACK...I'm wrong....just discussed it with my 14 y/o...lol
48÷2(9+3) (work out equation inside brackets first)
= 48÷2x12 (work out equation from left to right)
= 24x12 (solve simplified equation)
= 288 DOH!!!
48÷2(9+3) (work out equation inside brackets first)
= 48÷2(12) (work out to eliminate brackets)
= 48÷24 (solve simplified equation) = 2
The answer is 2!
Edit: ACK...I'm wrong....just discussed it with my 14 y/o...lol
48÷2(9+3) (work out equation inside brackets first)
= 48÷2x12 (work out equation from left to right)
= 24x12 (solve simplified equation)
= 288 DOH!!!
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If a tree falls in the forest and there is nobody around to hear it, does it make a sound?
The question is faulty to begin with. Designed to cause ambiguity. As PKZap27 and others have said... it's formulated poorly, if you'll pardon the pun. We'd have to know the formula author's intent (other than to cause an interesting discussion). There is no answer, (other than 42 which, as any Douglas Adams fan knows, is the answer to everything) because the original question is unclear.
Thus, 42 until the formula notation is corrected. Then, 288 or 2 depending on the correction. I'm going to stand outside with a towel on my head and ask for a ride off this rock.
P.S. Others insist that it is not faulty notation, because a left-to-right rule exists at the same order of precedence. I want proof of that. Anyone verify that? If proven, then 288 since there is no ambiguity. However, computers have adopted this left-to-right thing in expression evaluation, so any computer would say 288. Have humans adopted this too? Proof? What do they do in countries that read right-to-left?
Also, assign x to the value 2. Solve for x using 288 as an answer, then solve for x using 2 as an answer.
48÷2(9+3) = ??
48÷x(9+3) = 2
48÷12x = 2
4/x = 2
x = 2 (check)
48÷x(9+3) = 288
48÷12x = 288
4/x = 288
4=288x
4/288 = x
x = 1/72 (lol)
Although, we're back to order of operations...........
Still waiting with that towel on my head......
The question is faulty to begin with. Designed to cause ambiguity. As PKZap27 and others have said... it's formulated poorly, if you'll pardon the pun. We'd have to know the formula author's intent (other than to cause an interesting discussion). There is no answer, (other than 42 which, as any Douglas Adams fan knows, is the answer to everything) because the original question is unclear.
Thus, 42 until the formula notation is corrected. Then, 288 or 2 depending on the correction. I'm going to stand outside with a towel on my head and ask for a ride off this rock.
P.S. Others insist that it is not faulty notation, because a left-to-right rule exists at the same order of precedence. I want proof of that. Anyone verify that? If proven, then 288 since there is no ambiguity. However, computers have adopted this left-to-right thing in expression evaluation, so any computer would say 288. Have humans adopted this too? Proof? What do they do in countries that read right-to-left?
Also, assign x to the value 2. Solve for x using 288 as an answer, then solve for x using 2 as an answer.
48÷2(9+3) = ??
48÷x(9+3) = 2
48÷12x = 2
4/x = 2
x = 2 (check)
48÷x(9+3) = 288
48÷12x = 288
4/x = 288
4=288x
4/288 = x
x = 1/72 (lol)
Although, we're back to order of operations...........
Still waiting with that towel on my head......
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Computers didn't adopt the left to right rule all on their own humans programed the computers for the left to right rule, so there (said in my most childish voice) 288 rules and Douglas Adams is wrong.
All "right thinking" people know the answer is 288.
Anybody else is just spoiling for a fight.
Anybody else is just spoiling for a fight.
If a tree falls in the forest and there is no one to hear, do the other trees laugh at it?
Only left-handed people are in their right mind.
Whether the equation is meant to confuse or is only poorly written is open to debate.
For those who say 2 is the right answer, I offer the following, which is just as legitimate:
48/2(9+3) = 48/(2*9)+(2*3) = 48/18 + 6 = 2.6666... + 6 = 8.6666...
Only left-handed people are in their right mind.
Whether the equation is meant to confuse or is only poorly written is open to debate.
For those who say 2 is the right answer, I offer the following, which is just as legitimate:
48/2(9+3) = 48/(2*9)+(2*3) = 48/18 + 6 = 2.6666... + 6 = 8.6666...
Still, I say PEMDAS. Unless math has changed since it was used to accurately place the lunar lander on the moon. I wonder what would have happened if they had subscribed to the left to right method? It's a valid question.
Not valid only in that it's already been established that no competent mathematician would have written the notation to be that ambiguous in the first place. This problem we've been toying with here was meant to be ambiguous or at least presented for discussion because of it's ambiguity.
I seem to recall a recent Mars lander crashing on arrival because someone got their metric/inch systems mixed up.
Something similar happened with the first Hubble mirror as well.
Bassnut are you sure it wasn't for the fuel messurement? I thought because of the metric/standard confussion they didn't have enough or to much. Either way I know metric is supposed to be easier but why can we just stick with the standard, it works.
For some reason the U.S. still holds to the English system of measurement even though they don't...except for beer.
The metric system is used here in some fields but we still measure distance in miles, feet, inches and divisions thereof.
I think we still exclusively use pounds, ounces, quarts, pints, cups, tablespoons etc in the kitchen too. Somewhere, somebody measures out grams of sugar for their coffee....but I don't know where.
The metric system is used here in some fields but we still measure distance in miles, feet, inches and divisions thereof.
I think we still exclusively use pounds, ounces, quarts, pints, cups, tablespoons etc in the kitchen too. Somewhere, somebody measures out grams of sugar for their coffee....but I don't know where.
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The Hubble error was associated with several things from improperly calibrated adjustment equipment for focusing to a speck of paint on a measurement tool. einstein aspect universe
The Mars lander was the victim of an improper conversion from metric to English measurements.
Mystery of Orbiter Crash Solved
The problem with Acronyms taught to elementary school children is that they don't always capture the full content. Correctly written, the order of operations is -- P,E,(M D),(A S), with the right order rule overarching. The reason for this is the commutative, associative and distributive properties associated with the operation. Multiplication and Division are of the same "Order" in the order of operations, as are addition and subtraction. Multiplication doesn't occur first, unless it is to the left of the divisive operation. When you reach any particular level in the order of operations, you are required to perform all of the operations at that level from the left side of the equation to the right side. Yes, the notation is like reading, because that is the way it is defined. No the equation is not ambiguous, answering questions like this is exactly why the order of operations is defined. Unfortunately, few high school math teachers explain the full reasoning behind it, so we have a majority of the population generally, but not specifically, understanding the concept. As other posters noted, parenthesis would be required to overcome the left-to-right requirements, so the answer is definitely 288.
PS: Fantwriter, you divided by 0 in step 4 of your procedure, invalidating your result. Nice one, though.
Edit: Sorry, Infernal, you beat me to it. Should have read thoroughly before posting.
PS: Fantwriter, you divided by 0 in step 4 of your procedure, invalidating your result. Nice one, though.
Edit: Sorry, Infernal, you beat me to it. Should have read thoroughly before posting.
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schaedj, that's what I tried to say a few pages back, but just like my kids at home they don't want to listen. Maybe you can talk some sense into these kids, or should we just ground them and take computer, TV, and phone privileges away.
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