What many of these people who think the answer is 288 don’t understand is that 2(9+3) = (2x9 +2x3) = (18+6) = (24).
Therefore it is obvious to anyone who knows the fundamentals of solving an equation that the answer must be 2.
They even acknowledge that the parentheses needs to be solved first, but somehow don’t understand or won’t admit that solving the parentheses yields an answer of 24.
They ignore the distributive rule.
If the problem was 48/2 x (9+3), 288 would be the correct solution, but that is not the problem.
“If the problem was 48/2 x (9+3), 288 would be the correct solution, but that is not the problem.”
48/2 x (9+3)
is the same as
48/2(9+3)
Evaluating operations inside parens takes precedence over the multiplication operation in the distribution, so the next step gives
48/2(9+3) =
48/2(12) =
48/2*12 =
24*12 =
288
That is the problem. You ignored commutativity. Factors commute, so 48/2 * (9+3) = 48(9+3)/2 = 288.
“......If the problem was 48/2 x (9+3), 288 would be the correct solution, but that is not the problem.”
You are correct. I think the poster that stated that it may be the difference between the way various generations were taught. Nowadays people rely solely upon calculators, having either never learned or have forgotten any algebra/calculas/trig/geometry classes.......
Notice the 288 crowd always seperates the 2 from the (9+3) without any reason other than to say the / following the 48 should go first.
48/2 * 48/(9 + 3) = 96 is just as valid under their logic.
No, we understand that.
They even acknowledge that the parentheses needs to be solved first, but somehow don’t understand or won’t admit that solving the parentheses yields an answer of 24.
9 + 3 is 24?
When I solve the parentheses, I solve what is inside the parentheses. What do you do?
They ignore the distributive rule.
No, we follow the order of operations. Division and multiplication have the same precedence, so you go left to right.
Can you cite a rule anywhere that says the distributive property means you can ignore the order of precedence and do multiplication first? Can you cite a rule that says when multiplication is implied rather than explicit that you have to do that multiplication first?
You have the whole internet. Should be easy to find.
“If the problem was 48/2 x (9+3), 288 would be the correct solution, but that is not the problem.”
You obviously don’t know that 2(9+3) means 2 X (9+3).
the number immediately before something in parenthesis is a multiplier. It goes with what’s in the (..)s, not with what’s before it.
The answer is 288.
Those who have said the (.)’s have to be resolved first are correct. The only problem is the 2 goes with the (.)s...they can’t be separated on a whim....
the answer is 288.