Ambiguous. The precedence of division and the multiplication of the parenthsized (9+3) is the same, therefore both answers are valid.
The preferred but non-binding left-to-right reading gives 288.
“Ambiguous. The precedence of division and the multiplication of the parenthsized (9+3) is the same, therefore both answers are valid.”
Nosir. Joe 6 has it correctly, but I doubt public education teaches students to think before using a calculator these days.
No, expressed correctly as an improper fraction the result is easier to discern. Any time the order of operations seems confusing, look at the expression as a fraction and remember that the numerator and denominator are resolved independently.
Concur.
It appears one is programmed giving precedence to multiplication, division, addition, then subtraction. The parentheses simply offer either a distributive calculation or prior subtotal calculation.
If the intent is to divide by the denominator, then the entire denominator should be in parentheses. Otherwise the parenthetical quantity is shown in the numerator.
That's why I find it to always be best to explicitly include parentheses to reflect the equation as I want it solved, even if it's "overkill". I don't want to be reliant on an implementation of precedence that may vary from device to device (or even compiler to compiler, for a computer). In any event, I'd rather not think that I know how the machine will interpret it, I'd rather know it will evaluate exactly the way I want it to.