48÷2(9+3) = ????

[krystar]

u solve what's INSIDE the () first.

48/2(12) = 48/2*12

the 2 is NOT inside the ()


then 48/2*12 is all mults and divisions. u evaluate left to right.
48 divide by 2 times 12.

= FRIGGING 288!

[romad]

WOW 2(9+3) is a single term by defintion of the Distributive property...... read it

a(b+c) = ab+ac

ex 5(4+2)
(20+10) or
= 30
or
5(4+2)
5(6)
=30

wrong way

5(4+2)
5*4+2
=22

[DARISC]

Originally Posted by svandamme

Yeah, that sucks, apparantly Wolfram alpha has a different use of the () vs the []

I mearly used different brackets to show which closing bracket goes with which opening bracket. They were supposed to have equal weight in my examples

Isn't Wolfram using them like you are? I never think to use brackets and then, being clerically challenged to begin with, get all screwed up with the openings and closings.

I posted both of the below earlier because I used Wolf to verify my work. Here they are again for both equations; do 62% here think Wolf is giving the wrong answer to both equations, i.e., is Wolf a faulty calculator?

And, as far as the answer differing depending on how one uses the equation, is there really more than one 'correct' way? If so, that would really shake my faith in math.

But then, I once took a course in projective geometry which is non-Euclidian and wherein parallel lines DO cross. Oy vey.

Anyway, unless Wolf is faulty, these are the right answers:

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally Posted by billybek

Can't we just divide 288 by 2 and everyone could be happy?

damn liberal

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally Posted by krystar

u solve what's INSIDE the () first.

48/2(12) = 48/2*12

the 2 is NOT inside the ()


then 48/2*12 is all mults and divisions. u evaluate left to right.
48 divide by 2 times 12.

= FRIGGING 288!

but after you do what is in the '( )' then you establish the numerator and the denominator - that means you must do the multiplication first. Division is last.

[krystar]

distributive property doesn't let u distribute only part of a common factor over the elements.

doing proper distributive, would be
48/2(9+3) = 48/2*9 + 48/2*3


apply distributive rule,
a/b(c+d) = a/b*c + a/b*d

[krystar]

Originally Posted by LubeMaster77

but after you do what is in the '( )' then you establish the numerator and the denominator - that means you must do the multiplication first. Division is last.

multiplication and division have the SAME priority. you do NOT do multiplication first then division. you apply the operators left to right!!!!!

[sammyg2]

[krystar]

i'm tired of teaching 4th grade arithmetic .

48/2(9+3) - Google Search

if u don't believe it, too bad.

[chocolatelab]

Damn. I was sure it was 2. Then I read the next post and that made sense. 288. Then i read the next post. Whew, Chris you are not crazy it is 2. Then I read the next post, crap 288 does make sense. Then the ne............

I'm afraid to even open this anymore

[Brando]

Next you are going to prove that 2 is a rational number.

I'm out!

[abisel]

[masraum]

Originally Posted by DARISC

"So the equation , in any case, never was poorly written in a strict mathematical sense.
It was written in a way that leaves it prone for incorrect interpretation of the order of operations... The incorrect interpreation is human error, it's not mathematical."

I agree.

Dude! You're killin' me here. Look how these two things are written.

Originally Posted by romad

solve:

16 ÷ 2[8 – 3(4 – 2)] + 1

Originally Posted by Z-man

48÷2(9+3)

They are written exactly the same, but you're arguing that one is solved one way and the other is solved the other way.

Originally Posted by DARISC

Originally Posted by DARISC

Yeah; thus the not far from 50/50 split in the poll.

Fun though.

Wolframalpha is doing the problem two different ways.

If you change it to x 1/2, it changes the result

[masraum]

Originally Posted by romad

Distributive property = A(B+C) = AB+AC


Simplifying Using the Distributive Property Lesson -- Algebra.Help


2(9+3) is one term by defintion



Then order of ops

48/ 2(9+3) You must solve the () first

48/(18+6)

48/24 = 2

Bzzzt! Thanks for playing. Read below.

Originally Posted by krystar

distributive property doesn't let u distribute only part of a common factor over the elements.

doing proper distributive, would be
48/2(9+3) = 48/2*9 + 48/2*3


apply distributive rule,
a/b(c+d) = a/b*c + a/b*d

Ding, ding, ding!!!

Thank you, I was about to post that myself.

Part of the problem taken out of context can be dangerous.

You could rewrite the portion of the equation in question as

(48/2)(9+3) which gives 9x24+3x24 which is 12x24 which is 288

same goes for the problem that you suggested.

(16/2)(8-3(4-2))+1
8(8-3(2))+1
8(8-6)+1
8(2)+1
17

[trekkor]

I'm curious how many still think the answer is 2?


KT

[Esel Mann]

If 288 and 17 are wrong, please share with us the respectable reference source which supports your approach!

Excel spreadsheet and the C programming reference I mentioned support the answers being 288 and 17 respectively.

However if these answers are wrong, I'll gladly be the first to admit my error, and graciously thank anyone who shares a reference source which says it is otherwise!

[Hodgey]

Originally Posted by trekkor

I'm curious how many still think the answer is 2?


KT

I do......

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Hodgey

I do......

Hahahahahahah

Kudos to you for being willing to admit it

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by trekkor

I'm curious how many still think the answer is 2?


KT

Me

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by AirKuhl

The fact that these types of threads go on and on for pages demonstrates that something that we hold as the epitome of objectiveness, mathematics, is as open to interpretation as anything.

"Objectiveness?" Is that really a word? It's "objectivity." Sheesh. And don't give me the old argument about "objectiveness" vs "objectivity" being subjective.