[Tim n Texas]

2.... math eggheads would solve the juxtaposed 2(9+3) first. Another way to express this would be (2(9)+2(3)).

[meyer]

2.... math eggheads would solve the juxtaposed 2(9+3) first. Another way to express this would be (2(9)+2(3)).

You are correct - as I pointed out, the distributive property of multiplication dictates that this is true, since 2(9+3) = (2(9)+2(3))=24

[MortMan]

in 48/2(9+3) the parenthesis are used to force the evaluation of the addition prior to the left-to-right evaluation of the rest of the equation. Unless you can show a rule written somewhere that forces the lack of the multiplication operator symbol into meaning implied parenthesis, the answer is 288.