I originally figured that 288 was correct, and then got talked into the other. So, I hit the old algebra book. It really didn’t discuss this specific form; however, the precedence rules along with the associative and communitive rules just don’t provide a means to invent an imaginary parenthetical grouping. The answer really has to be 288.
“It really didn’t discuss this specific form; however, the precedence rules along with the associative and communitive rules just don’t provide a means to invent an imaginary parenthetical grouping......”
Which is why you cannot regroup the equation to (48/2)((9+3)
Nor can you arbitrarily add a * between the 2 and the (9+3) in order to justify incorrectly applying precedence rules....
The answer, as the equation is written, is 2.