[MortMan]

Here’s what bothers me about the answers you guys have given:

It requires that the assumption be made that 48/2 is not the coefficient in front of the parenthetical expression.

Being represented in a left-to-right form, I have assumed a left-to-right parsing schema.

Using x for the value 48 would give x/2(9+3) as the equation.

Perhaps because I have been jaded by my computer science background, I read that as x/2 times the parenthetical sum.

In any event, It’s been a fun debate.

[meyer]

I think part of the problem is using "keyboard" notation instead of hand-written math. I think it throws people off as to positioning and grouping and such. It's just a little caddywhompus!

Using x for the value 48 would give x/2(9+3) as the equation.

Perhaps because I have been jaded by my computer science background, I read that as x/2 times the parenthetical sum.

Whereas I can see x/24 as a possible answer.