48÷2(9+3)=?

Lots of helpful answers. I was hung up on PEMDAS, but PE(MD)(AS) makes more sense now. I've been through a year of calculus, linear algebra, several stats classes, and numerous technical science classes, and algebra is still the trickiest part of math. There's always room to learn.

[quote]You Guys Are Smart wrote:

Oh. My.

I was an English Major in college and this was very easy for me. I almost basic failed math in college.

quote]

You have an English major and can't write a coherent sentence? Please tell me you're foreign, because it would be a damn shame if you are from the U.S.

The answer is 2

2(9+3) is one number.

The whole thing is one number. That number is 288.

rolo wrote:

and algebra is still the trickiest part of math.

Quite true. It's funny because people in mathematical disciplines tend to think of algebra as the stuff they learned in high school and act like it's a pretty simple subject. Yet nearly every mistake that people make when doing math is an algebra mistake. Nobody really makes calculus mistakes. People screw up calculus problems because they screwed up their algebra.

Place a multiplication sign "x" in front of the parenthesis

Not difficult. 288. Showed two friends thinking I might stump them, they both got 288.

I can understand if you get 2 at first, but if you repeatedly argue for 2 you are just stubborn.

36/288

1/8, my bad.

I mean 1*8

or do i

[quote]You Guys Are Smart wrote:

Next, we have only multiplication and division remaining, so we go left to right.

quote]

Why should you go left to right? The commutative property of multiplication says a*b = b*a so you should be able to go either way if it is just multiplication and division. That's why the parentheses are needed.

I think the left to right convention is just a slant against Jews who read Hebrew from right to left.

constantine wrote:

this is a classic example of not using enough parentheses the problem should read

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

that is a classic example of using too many parentheses.

constantine wrote:

this is a classic example of not using enough parentheses the problem should read

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

I think you meant ((((48/2))((9+3))))

knox harrington wrote:

that is a classic example of using too many parentheses.

(((((((((((((((((((((I) can't) understand) your) post.) Your) lack) of) parentheses) makes) it) impossible) to) know) which) order) to) read) the) words) in.)

48 2 / 9 3 + *

sajdfhhsbg wrote:

well

48÷2(9+3)=?

I vote two gross

what if it were

48 ÷ 2X equals ?

where X equals 9+3

get it?

this problem is essentialy 48÷2X

48/2X=2

mplatt wrote:

what if it were

48 ÷ 2X equals ?

where X equals 9+3

get it?

this problem is essentialy 48÷2X

48/2X=2

Something tells me you are not a Math teacher