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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Franklin, TN
Posts: 5,902
Quote:
Originally Posted by dad911 View Post
Do you see what Google does with the equation? It converts it to:

(48 / 2) * (9+3)=

And then solves it to "288".

Well, that's correct based on how it interpreted the equation.

Of the calculators that let you enter the equation as written, some come back with "2" and some with "288".

The equation " 48÷2(9+3) = ????" is like a poorly written sentence that could be taken two mean to different things. The author of the equation knew what he wanted to convey but did not do so clearly in this case.

The answer is that both "288" and "2" are correct answers. Which one you get is based on how your interpret the equation. In other words, it is ambiguous!

Scott

Last edited by winders; 06-12-2013 at 09:15 PM.. Reason: Spelling
Old 06-12-2013, 08:31 PM
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