[Geary]

Can't believe this is still being debated ..

The following rule has likely been explained a dozen times in the past 27 pages, but I'll take one more stab at it ..

48÷2(9+3) = 48÷[2(9+3)] = 2 .. the only possible answer to the original equation.

48÷2x(9+3) = [48÷2]x[(9+3)] = 288 .. but this isn't the original equation.

Any time a number sits directly alongside a parenthesis, this number alone multiplies the sum within the parenthesis before moving outward to any other operation. Every time. It is not a matter of interpretation.

So no .. 2(9+3) and 2x(9+3) are obviously NOT the same within the original equation.