“Nothing places multiplication above division, but 2(9+3) is not the same as 2*(9+3). Alone, the answer is the same, but used in an equation, they are not the same thing.”
They absolutely *are* the same.
By distributing first, you are multiplying before evaluating the operation(s) in the parens. This is incorrect.
In the original problem [ 48/2*(9+3) ] the parens are evaluated first, and leave a mult and div operation, which are evaluated from left to right.
48/2(9+3) =
48/2*12 =
24*12 =
288
That is not the problem; it is 48/2(9+3).
Showing all the work:
48/(2x9 + 2x3) Distributive property =
48/(18 + 6) Simple multiplication =
48/24 Simple addition
48/24 = 2
Please tell me where this is faulty? Do you even know about the distributive property?
Here is a link that even a third-grader can understand:
http://www.freemathhelp.com/distributive-property.html
The only thing worse than being wrong is to maintain ones ignorance in the face of an undisputable fact.
The correct answer is 2.