Poll: What is the answer to 48/2(9+3)?
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If the (9+3) was intended to also be in the denominator, it should have been written as:
48/(2(9+3))
As it is written, 48/2(9+3) , the answer should be 288 as the bracketed expression is a multiplier.
The disagreements stemming from this wouldn't be because the math is challenging, but because the way it is written is not ideal.
48/(2(9+3))
As it is written, 48/2(9+3) , the answer should be 288 as the bracketed expression is a multiplier.
The disagreements stemming from this wouldn't be because the math is challenging, but because the way it is written is not ideal.
No.Theron Julius said:
You multiply into the paranthesis, as such:
2*(9+3) = (2*9)+(2*3) = 18+6 = 24
Dude, wat? You'd do that if the question was (42/2)*(9+3). You can't divide by a single number in the denominator and leave out the rest. Everything "above" the division and everything "below" the division.
I hope this is not an indication of American math. Honestly, I suck at math, and this just seems like elementary school stuff to me. Whatever PEMDAS is, this is a clear and easy matter of calculating it using your brain, not a standard formula.
48/2(9+3) = 48/(2*9)+(2*3) = 48/18+6 = 48/24 = 2
Anything else is incorrect.
Reading some other posts I think I've discovered the source of the conflict: the fact that this question is very, very poorly written.Kiroy said:
Some people (myself included) are taking it literally, seeing it as:
48 * (9+3)
2
With this layout, the answer is 288. However, the other side of the argument are perceiving the brackets as part of the denominator of 48/2. This is what they see:
___48__
2 * (9+3)
With this layout, the answer is 2.
I originally thought that it was 2 but, after thinking it through, by how it is worded it must be 288. For the answer to equal 2 it would need to be written as follows:
48/[2(9+3)]
Otherwise, following BEDMAS, you would add the numbers in brackets to get 12 and then work from left to right like so:
48/2 = 24
24*12 = 288
Therefore, the answer is 288.
48/[2(9+3)]
Otherwise, following BEDMAS, you would add the numbers in brackets to get 12 and then work from left to right like so:
48/2 = 24
24*12 = 288
Therefore, the answer is 288.
This is one of those rare times that I wish this forum was more like SA, so we could get a fabulous mod challenge.
Doesn't happen often, but sometimes.
Doesn't happen often, but sometimes.
Protip: When someone writes 48/2, what they're saying is "Multiply 48 by the multiplicative inverse of 2." Therefore, the problem, as written, is equivalent to writing
48*(1/2)*(9+3).
This evaluates to 288.
48*(1/2)*(9+3).
This evaluates to 288.
That's just silly.Ishadus said:
If you wanted it to be 48/2 times (9+3), then why would you not put a clear symbol between the 2 and the paranthesis? You only omit that if you count that as a single entity. It's much more reasonable to assume that since the multiplication symbol is omited between the two, they count as a single entity, as the denominator in the division. Any reasonable person I know would assume so, and would write it as "(48/2)*(9+3)" if they wanted to seperate them. That's pretty much how you do these things.
I apologize for my double post, should no one have posted between then and now.
What he said. I just assumed it should be the fraction way. Also, 2 is just a whole lot neater.AccursedTheory said:
I'm frightened by the amount of people that said the answer is 2....your elementary school failed you sad individuals.
Written the way it is, the answer can only be 288. You can not do the multiplication before the division without extra brackets being used. But yes that is a sloppy ass way to write it and would get you a backhand by proper math teachers.
Written the way it is, the answer can only be 288. You can not do the multiplication before the division without extra brackets being used. But yes that is a sloppy ass way to write it and would get you a backhand by proper math teachers.
