[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by winders

It's more complicated than that....

48÷2(9+3) = ????

That is a poorly written equation that is quite ambiguous.

If you follow the standard order of precedence rule, you get 288. But, if follow the school of thought that says implicit multiplication has precedence of explicit multiplication and division, you get 2.

Also, what if you do this:

48/2(9+x)=288

48/2(9+x)=2

Solve for x in both cases. Which one works out as 3?

Scott