Uh, it's 2 folks.....

2(9+3) has to be satisfied prior to dividing it into 48

Read the whole thread, there is an parentheses missing if you were to get "2" as an answer.

This made it clear for me, thank you.

Nope - fuggedabout mdas. Ya gots ta follow the rules for mathematical order of operations:

Multiplication or division (in the OP's equation, division)
Addition
Subtraction

The answer is 288.

Hey - this is a math equestion, not an Engrish question!! :)

Why? That violates the left-to-right order of operations rule...

-Z

Operations rule (multiply or divide). 288. My 6th grade daughter and 8th grade son confirm.

holy cow. i don't even know how i got 111 hahah. musta missed something. second rule. always check your work! hehe

48/2*9+3 is most definitely 219! but original statement sticks. it is NOT ambiguous :)

no u do 48/2 first. ending up with 24(12). which means 24*(12) . which is 288

= yes

math
 

According to the wife a straight a math whiz the answer is 2. She also sent this picture.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1302541104.jpg

Damn it Wilwerding - if we can't get ALL these math geniuses to conclude on one equation result - then I can sure as hell offer up my theory that a dollar is missing! :p

If your answer is not "2", then you must have been brought up with the "New Math". A sure sign we are near the end. Peace and Love.
Too many have put the love of money before the love of people. That's why we are where we are, and why we are going where we are going.

That would be fine, if the equation in the photo is the same as the one we are talking about.

But it isn't.

Everyone getting 2 as an answer, have some else do your taxes. LOL
My apologies. I couldn't resist.

the picture shows a different equation

I sent this around the office and its a 50/50 split. It all depends on how you remember your math facts and how you are reading the equation. I think the comment about the equation being poorly written is the most correct.

I guess this is one of the reason that I always hated math. It is amazing to me that there can be an argument over the answer to a simple math question.

48÷2(9+3)= spam

All other answers are incorrect. All this equation does is show a limit of simple math notation. Ultimately, equations mean something. If the meaning is ambiguous, it needs to be clarified. It's like someone saying something that sounds like "two" out loud and expecting you to know if he meant "two", "to, or "too" without any context.

This equation is broken, whoever wrote it nedds to rite gooder.

And just for fun, if you follow order of ops it's 288.

But since my keyboard doesn't have a handy ÷ key, I would write it as 48/2(9+3). But by using the slash, we all know it's just a shorthand way of writing

48
______

2(9+3)

Which I think most people would ignore order of ops between the multiplication and division and say the answer is 2.

So:
"÷" = "/"
but
48÷2(9+3) =/= 48/2(9+3) ;)

If you put the exact formula in Excel with a "*" between the 2 and the ( it gives you 288

My initial thought was 2 after a quick glance. It is a poorly written equation where the better answer is 288.