Poll: What is the answer to 48/2(9+3)?

[Sanglyon]

"/" is the same thing as "____", they both mean "divided by."

i'll repeat myself:

No, it's the same thing as ÷ which also means divided by.
"/" is not a shortcut to write a fraction without using a drawing tool, it's just the sign that's on a computer keyboard.

÷ or / means "divide the one item on the left by the one item on the right". If the item on the right is a whole equation, then it must be enclosed in parenthesis. If there are no parenthesis, then it is only the first item that is concerned, here the 2.

Let's say I have to work 48 days, but only half time. I get paid 9$ cash plus 3$ in food.
How much do I gain?
48/2*(9+3) = 288 $

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

-snip

Not exactly. I agree you can treat 1/4 as a fraction just like you can treat 1 divided by 4 as one (mostly because they are the exact same thing).

But your mistake is thinking everything after the "/" is automatically part of the denominator, which just isn't true. That is exactly why we have PEMDAS.

And I'd argue that, under PEMDAS, this is why we have the P part. Without that P, I see everything under that fraction bar as, well, something under a fraction bar.

 

[Merkavar]

i got 2

9+3*2=24
48/24

google changes the formula to look like this (48 / 2) * (9 + 3) = 288

google doesnt "change the formula". google uses proper order of operations. read the question left to right and preform the operations in order. Why are you multiplying the 2 by the 9+3 before you do the division? there is no reason to do this. The division step is done first. if the multiplication step was done first it would have to be included in brackets to indicate such. so it would look like 48/(2(9+3)).

so your saying adding extra () isnt changing the formula? i realise that it doesnt change the calculation or outcome but with () and without () is clearly physically different. the google version is much clear for people not the best at maths.

 

[Sanglyon]

Aaahhh the little hidden exceptions of maths that makes me despise it so. Im pretty sure its 2.

Reason being, it works out that way algebraically. Algebra fills me with much disdain but it has its purpose in identifying the patterns of how such bastard problems are delt with.

If you replace the numbers with letters a/b(c+d) you get a/bc+bd or 48/((2x9)+(2x3)) which turns out 48/(18+6), Which is the same as 48/(2x12), which turns out to be 48/24 & is therefor = 2.

I think the reason for the confusion is that in most cases the fraction symbol (/) functions the same as the division symbol (not on my keyboard) but it still has to be treated differently. Calculators play by this rule too & its ever so frustrating to get two different answers for the same problem using either button.

I really hate maths.

If I replace it with letters, I get a÷b(c+d) = a(c+d)÷b = 288

 

[mps4li3n]

But your mistake is thinking everything after the "/" is automatically part of the denominator, which just isn't true. That is exactly why we have PEMDAS.

Except that some people went to schools where no "/" was used, and because they're used to only "____", thus they have no different rules for "/" and assume the same rule applies...

It's like 1.250 vs 1,250... which one is a fraction?

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

[using PEMDAS

Fascinating, Americans use PEDMAS. Canadians use BEDMAS. Brits use BODMAS.

 

[Keava]

So when interpreting "/" as "___" one tends to assume things AFTER "/" are the same as things UNDER "____"...

You can assume it as such, but it still doesn't make such assumption right. That's why you have that nifty thing called knowledge and eduction so you don't have to assume but you -KNOW- that unless it is phrased as a/(b*c) you are supposed to treat it as

a
- * c
b

 

[Sanglyon]

So when interpreting "/" as "___" one tends to assume things AFTER "/" are the same as things UNDER "____"...

You can assume it as such, but it still doesn't make such assumption right. That's why you have that nifty thing called knowledge and eduction so you don't have to assume but you -KNOW- that unless it is phrased as a/(b*c) you are supposed to treat it as

a
- * c
b

That's what I keep saying.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

"/" is the same thing as "____", they both mean "divided by."

i'll repeat myself:

No, it's the same thing as ÷ which also means divided by.
"/" is not a shortcut to write a fraction without using a drawing tool, it's just the sign that's on a computer keyboard.

÷ or / means "divide the one item on the left by the one item on the right". If the item on the right is a whole equation, then it must be enclosed in parenthesis. If there are no parenthesis, then it is only the first item that is concerned, here the 2.

Let's say I have to work 48 days, but only half time. I get paid 9$ cash plus 3$ in food.
How much do I gain?
48/2*(9+3) = 288 $

Actually, the word problem you wrote would be mathematically written as

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

a completely different problem from the one we're looking at. A mistake that basic makes me question how well you understand the subject you're arguing. As for your computer science claim, that may be true in the realm of compsci, but in math classes, the / really is shorthand for a fraction bar. People actually write problems that way by hand.

Edit: That's assuming you meant a $9 daily wage plus $3 in food per day. If the wage were by the hour but the food were still by the day, and by half day you meant half of a 24 hour day, it would be

(48(3))+(48(24/2)(9))=X, which is still a different problem from the one we're looking at.

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

[using PEMDAS

Fascinating, Americans use PEDMAS. Canadians use BEDMAS. Brits use BODMAS.

I wondered about that myself so I looked it up. Americans call the "( )" parenthesis where the British and Canadians call it brackets and where Americans and Canadians call the ^ exponent the British refer to it as order. When people started throwing those other acronyms around I was wondering if they had changed the rules of arithmetic since I left grade school.

 

[Crazy_Dude]

I got 288.

48/2=24

2 x (9+3) = 288

 

[mps4li3n]

No, it's the same thing as ÷ which also means divided by.
"/" is not a shortcut to write a fraction without using a drawing tool, it's just the sign that's on a computer keyboard.

÷ or / means "divide the one item on the left by the one item on the right". If the item on the right is a whole equation, then it must be enclosed in parenthesis. If there are no parenthesis, then it is only the first item that is concerned, here the 2.

Actually the "/" is "slightly" older then keyboards: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//#History

And as proven with pics on some computers "/" does take everything after it as being under "____".

 

[NLS]

Surprisingly many say 2 though...

 

[Torrasque]

288

BEDMAS:
1. Brackets - Do the math in the brackets first
2. Exponent - Then multiply by any exponents (only applies to the number that has the exponent on it)
3. Divide - Do your division after all BE has been done
4. Multiply - Followed by Multiplication
5. Addition - Add any remaining shit
6. Subratction -And then see if you missed any subtraction

Its really not that hard.
Next time you should ask a WoW GM. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.262275-WoW-Customer-Support-Does-Your-Math-Homework#9895740]

 

[GBlair88]

I used BODMAS 9+3=12 48/2=24 24*12=288

 

[mps4li3n]

"/" is the same thing as "____", they both mean "divided by."

i'll repeat myself:

No, it's the same thing as ÷ which also means divided by.
"/" is not a shortcut to write a fraction without using a drawing tool, it's just the sign that's on a computer keyboard.

÷ or / means "divide the one item on the left by the one item on the right". If the item on the right is a whole equation, then it must be enclosed in parenthesis. If there are no parenthesis, then it is only the first item that is concerned, here the 2.

Let's say I have to work 48 days, but only half time. I get paid 9$ cash plus 3$ in food.
How much do I gain?
48/2*(9+3) = 288 $

Actually, the word problem you wrote would be mathematically written as

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

a completely different problem from the one we're looking at. A mistake that basic makes me question how well you understand the subject you're arguing. As for your computer science claim, that may be true in the realm of compsci, but in math classes, the / really is shorthand for a fraction bar. People actually write problems that way by hand.

That's funny, because that's exactly the same thing, but written differently.

48x(1/2) if the same as (48x1)/2... or 48x1:2 if you go left -> right etc.

 

[Sebenko]

48/2(9+3)

Brackets first, bitches.

48/2 (12)

Then multiplimotherfuckingcation

48/ 24

and finally, that punk ass division

2

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

a completely different problem from the one we're looking at. A mistake that basic makes me question how well you understand the subject you're arguing. As for your computer science claim, that may be true in the realm of compsci, but in math classes, the / really is shorthand for a fraction bar. People actually write problems that way by hand.

Given that the fraction bar implies only a ratio between two numbers, what basis is there to assume that additional operands and operators are part of that ratio unless explicitly told through some means? It seems to me that, unless you require some notation be used to imply that multiple operators and operands are in the divisor you introduce ambiguity where otherwise there was none.

While one could certainly resort to use the actual symbol for division to clear up this problem, the fact that it's hidden deep in the character set (and not present on a standard keyboard the way "/" is) is the reason why the convention described repeatedly is used. When the convention was made the average computer did not even have access to such a character as it did not fit onto the standard ASCII table (which has room for a mere 128 characters). It sneaks it at 246 on the extended chart (out of 256).

 

[mps4li3n]

So when interpreting "/" as "___" one tends to assume things AFTER "/" are the same as things UNDER "____"...

You can assume it as such, but it still doesn't make such assumption right. That's why you have that nifty thing called knowledge and eduction so you don't have to assume but you -KNOW- that unless it is phrased as a/(b*c) you are supposed to treat it as

a
- * c
b

That's what I keep saying.

And i'm sure you where also taught that 1,250 isn't 1 and 1/4 either and always assume it's one thousand etc...

 

[TilMorrow]

Using BIDMAS, Brackets, Indices, Division, Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction I get 2. I don't see how people are getting 288, you do the sum in the brackets first, (9+3), which equals 12 then times that by 2, 2x(9+3) / 2x12, which equals 24 then you divide 48 by 24, 48/(2x(9+3) / 48/(2x12) / 48/24, which equals 2. Simple, 1 mark for working out and 1 mark for the answer lol .

Edit: Oh wait I see what people mean... but I'd think it would be 288 if the problem was written like this 48/2 x (9+3). But in this case it's written with the 2 right next to the (9+3) as 2(9+3) so its all underneath 48 like this

48
---
2(9+3)

So in the case of the problem written in the thread title, the answer would be 2 through and through.