48÷2(9+3) =

[bloop]

48÷2(9+3) = ?

Something that has been circulating around the internet recently (sometimes used as troll material due to inevitable shitstorms.) However, I'm interested to know DTF's thoughts on the correct answer. It seems simple enough but there seems to be debate over whether the answer is  2 or 288. Consider order of operations as well as implied multiplication.

[lonestar]

I would say 2, but I suck at math.

[Adami]

I don't know what implied multiplication means, but order of operations would say that the answer is 2.

[Dimitrius]

It's 2 by order of operations.

[TheVoxyn]

Also going for 2.

[Dimitrius]

I don't know what implied multiplication means, but order of operations would say that the answer is 2.

Implied multiplication is what people use to write 2a instead or 2 x a.

[Adami]

I don't know what implied multiplication means, but order of operations would say that the answer is 2.

Implied multiplication is what people use to write 2a instead or 2 x a.

Oh, then I have no idea how that would change the answer.

[bloop]

Implied multiplication would mean the 2(12) would take precedence over the 48/2.
48 ÷ 2(9+3)=
48 ÷ 2(12)=
48 ÷ 24=
2

[glaurung]

2? What? The order of operations says that in this case you do parentheses first and then divide/multiply from left to right.

48÷2(9+3) = ?
48÷2x 12 =?
24x12=?
288

[Dimitrius]

Implied multiplication would mean the 2(12) would take precedence over the 48/2.

Order of operations also tell you this...

[blackngold29]

Order of operations

Parenthesis
Exponents
Multiplication / Division
Addition / Subtraction

So,

9+3 = 12

48 / 2 * 12

Go from left to right because multiplication and division are interchangeable

48 / 2 = 24 * 12 = 288


Alternatively,

Order of operations

Parenthesis
Exponents
Multiplication / Division
Addition / Subtraction

So,

9+3 = 12

48 / 2 * 12

Go from right to left because multiplication and division are interchangeable

48 / 24 = 2


The real answer: I don't care.

[ZBomber]

I always thought division/multiplication steps were interchangable, you just go by whatever one is first in the list.

But, like blackngold, I really don't care.

[Dimitrius]

2? What? The order of operations says that in this case you do parentheses first and then divide/multiply from left to right.

48÷2(9+3) = ?
48÷2x 12 =?

Isn't it suppose to be 48/2(12)?

[bloop]

If we consider order of operations in which both multiplication and division are simplified left to right it would pan out this way-
48 ÷ 2(9+3)=
48 ÷ 2(12)=
24(12)=
188

[glaurung]

2? What? The order of operations says that in this case you do parentheses first and then divide/multiply from left to right.

48÷2(9+3) = ?
48÷2x 12 =?

Isn't it suppose to be 48/2(12)?

Isn't that the exact same thing?

[Dimitrius]

2? What? The order of operations says that in this case you do parentheses first and then divide/multiply from left to right.

48÷2(9+3) = ?
48÷2x 12 =?

Isn't it suppose to be 48/2(12)?

Isn't that the exact same thing?

Well, going by order of operations (or rather how I've always use order of operations) that would make the result 2 and not 288.

[glaurung]

2? What? The order of operations says that in this case you do parentheses first and then divide/multiply from left to right.

48÷2(9+3) = ?
48÷2x 12 =?

Isn't it suppose to be 48/2(12)?

Isn't that the exact same thing?

Well, going by order of operations (or going by how I've always use order of operations) that would make the result 2 and not 288.

I don't know, I thought those were just two different ways of writing 2 multiplied by twelve.

Jamesman, get in here.

[ZBomber]

48/2(12) would mean you are diving 48 by 24... 48/2 x 12 would be diving 48 by 2 and then multiplying by 12, I think.

GOD I HATE MATH

[blackngold29]

So because dividing by x is the same as multiplying by 1/x.

We can say that 48/2(12) is like (1/24) * 48 which is 2.

[Dimitrius]

48/2(12) would mean you are diving 48 by 24... 48/2 x 12 would be diving 48 by 2 and then multiplying by 12, I think.

This is how I look at it too.

[lonestar]

All this arguing, and the chef who hasn't done math in fifteen years might havge the right answer??

[glaurung]

Jamesman, we need you!

[yorost]

Standard order of operations:

48÷2 X (9+3) = 48÷2 X (12) = 48÷2 X 12 = 24 X 12 = 288

The problem is that with the implied multiplication most people interpret it as 48÷(2 X (9+3))=2, a stronger grouping than than any written division and multiplication symbols.  However, implied multiplication isn't clearly defined in the standard order of operations, so is not really treated any different than other multiplication or division symbols, i.e. order is left to right.

[mizzl]

2? What? The order of operations says that in this case you do parentheses first and then divide/multiply from left to right.

48÷2(9+3) = ?
48÷2x 12 =?
24x12=?
288

This is the correct answer.

[mizzl]

48/2(12) would mean you are diving 48 by 24... 48/2 x 12 would be diving 48 by 2 and then multiplying by 12, I think.

This is how I look at it too.

I do not know of this mathematical operation 'diving' of yours.

[Ben_Jamin]

Its written like this

48÷2(9+3)
48÷2(12)
24(12)
288

Since 2(12) is 2 x 12. You divide first then multiply because Division is first in this equation, and is interchangable with multiplying.

Put it into a calculator as its written and you get 288


Pretty simple problem. What does

[Plasmastrike]

2? What? The order of operations says that in this case you do parentheses first and then divide/multiply from left to right.

48÷2(9+3) = ?
48÷2x 12 =?
24x12=?
288

[yorost]

Put it into a calculator as its written and you get 288

Not all calculators/languages necessarily interpret things the same.  Standard order of operations isn't exactly an enforced standard, which is why using parens when faced with potentially ambiguous operations like this is usually emphasized.

[bloop]

Put it into a calculator as its written and you get 288

I'm not saying it isn't 288 though.

[Edan the Man]

Since when is 2x ever any different at all from 2*x? Granted, since High School I've rarely had to use any algebra, but I've never heard such a thing.

[HarlequinForest]

There's no consensus in the math community about whether implied multiplication takes precedence over regular multiplication or not.  Think about that before you try to argue that there is a "right" answer, because there isn't.

[glaurung]

There's no consensus in the math community about whether implied multiplication takes precedence over regular multiplication or not.  Think about that before you try to argue that there is a "right" answer, because there isn't.

Yes there is.

And that answer is 288.

[Dimitrius]

There's no consensus in the math community about whether implied multiplication takes precedence over regular multiplication or not.  Think about that before you try to argue that there is a "right" answer, because there isn't.

Yes there is.

And that answer is 288.

Wrong. It's 2.

[Ridley]

With multiplication and division you just go from left to right, so 288. Not difficult, really.

[bloop]

There's no consensus in the math community about whether implied multiplication takes precedence over regular multiplication or not.  Think about that before you try to argue that there is a "right" answer, because there isn't.

True imo.

You can approach this two separate ways.

w/o implied multiplication
48/x(9+3)=288
(48/x)*12=288 (left to right simplification. Parenthesis around 48/x because you have to do that part first.)
48/x=24 (divide by 12)
x=2
So x=2 when the equation is set equal to 288.


Implied multiplication
48/x(9+3)=2
48/12x=2
4/x=2
x=2
So x=2 when the equation is set equal to 2.



However, 288 is generally the more accepted answer because implied multiplication in terms of order of operations is not entirely clear.