when you take out the shortcut notation the equation resolves as (48 / (2 * ( 9 + 3 )))
= (48/(2*12))
=(48/24)
=2
You added a perenthesis around the 2*(9+3) element that disambiguates the equation. Using typical left-to-right processing, the answer is 288.
But there IS NO PARENTHESIS before the 2. You’re implying it. So the operation is to do the math outside any parenthesis first. Thus the answer is 288.
That’s the math I was taught.
Maybe that’s how we get the budgets we have these days.
Add 14 trillion to the deficit, subtract 8 billion = OMG! EXTREME BUDGET CUTS! WOMEN AND MINORITIES HIT HARDEST! LEADING ECONOMISTS BLAME BUSH.