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

[RonHiler]

But that's exactly it. 2(9+3) =/= 2*(9+3), they are saying different things, and that's what you guys aren't understanding.

No, I understand perfectly. But that's just ONE opinion. You can't state that 2(9+3) =/= 2*(9+3) as a FACT. You can't. It's not universally accepted as such even by mathematicians (e.g. teachers). The very page you yourself linked to says exactly that.

So you have to allow for the fact that, to some of us, 2(9+3) == 2*(9+3). And we are NOT wrong. Just like you are not wrong that they aren't equal. Therefore either answer is correct, depending on how you view that equation.

Do you see what I mean?

 

[mps4li3n]

No, It's the math rules they're getting wrong. NOTHING DENOTES A COEFFICIENT ASIDE FROM THE FACT THAT IT STANDS DIRECTLY NEXT TO ITS TERM. There is no symbol for it. It just is. Get over it dude, you and your symbols are wrong. Learning the order of operations is pre-algebra, I took pre-algebra in 7th grade. An 8th grade math teacher shouldn't even NEED to go over the order of operations to let you know how to distribute properly.

Funny, i never even saw anyone using 2(x+y) in anything until ar least late highschool... and the symbol for multiplication was never * , but x... not that you understand what i'm getting at...


But yes, the lack of any other symbol is a good point, but besides the point for what i was saying... if you dont get that ýou're just as bad as the people that don;t understand what you're saying, just in a different way.


But hey, do try to explain Pythagora's theorem to an alien using symbols it's unfamiliar with (a triangle is cheating in case you didn't get it, unless it's blind)...

Do you see what I mean?

Does a blind alien see a triangle?

 

[Taerdin]

Are you stupid? Seriously. There is no way that can possibly come out to 288 unless you are typing it in wrong. Want me to take pictures of me typing it in? I'll do that for you buddy.
http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1SKPH_enUS384&aq=f&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=48%2F(2(9%2B3))
There it is in the google calculator. Is that wrong?

I think you typed the equation wrong

http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1SKPH_enUS384&aq=f&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=48%2F%282%289%2B3%29%29#sclient=psy&hl=en&rlz=1C1SKPH_enUS384&q=48%2F2%289%2B3%29&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=c875dd2b8adea15a

As you can see the answer is 288. No need to call me stupid over getting frustrated that you were wrong, really uncalled for.

This is ridiculous. You typed it wrong, stop acting so immature. I'm sorry that you didn't learn how to perform basic math functions, however, you should understand to accept defeat when I've provided immense amounts of evidence that you're wrong. All you've done is show me how to do these problems with your broken logic.

No seriously. You typed it wrong. Go to Google right now and type 48/2(9+3) and you will see a shiny new 288 looking you right in the face, I promise

 

[Joseph Webb]

None of you understand math. This is ridiculous. I'm done. Once you pass algebra, get back to me. I've tried time and time again to show you guys what a coefficient is, and how to write this type of problem down. You don't understand the basic rules of math, I can't help you.

 

[RonHiler]

Does a blind alien see a triangle?

Indeed. He seems particularly close minded, doesn't he? Ah well, one can only try.

 

[Pyro Paul]

Are you stupid? Seriously. There is no way that can possibly come out to 288 unless you are typing it in wrong. Want me to take pictures of me typing it in? I'll do that for you buddy.
http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1SKPH_enUS384&aq=f&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=48%2F(2(9%2B3))
There it is in the google calculator. Is that wrong?

I think you typed the equation wrong

http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1SKPH_enUS384&aq=f&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=48%2F%282%289%2B3%29%29#sclient=psy&hl=en&rlz=1C1SKPH_enUS384&q=48%2F2%289%2B3%29&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=c875dd2b8adea15a

As you can see the answer is 288. No need to call me stupid over getting frustrated that you were wrong, really uncalled for.

Acctually, you know that calculation is wrong?

Google calculator does not have the programming to calculate out complex equations nor put weight behind specific combinations of actions. to make up for this it has an Auto-complete system integrated into it in order to try and compensate for the users lack of clarity.

case in point... let me ask you this.
what does 2^3^4 equial on google calculator?

also using Order of Operations would you come to the same conclusion as google calculator?

 

[Joseph Webb]

But that's exactly it. 2(9+3) =/= 2*(9+3), they are saying different things, and that's what you guys aren't understanding.

No, I understand perfectly. But that's just ONE opinion. You can't state that 2(9+3) =/= 2*(9+3) as a FACT. You can't. It's not universally accepted as such even by mathematicians (e.g. teachers). The very page you yourself linked to says exactly that.

So you have to allow for the fact that, to some of us, 2(9+3) == 2*(9+3). And we are NOT wrong. Just like you are not wrong that they aren't equal. Therefore either answer is correct, depending on how you view that equation.

Do you see what I mean?

You are wrong though. Math has rules, and you're violating them. I don't have to allow for anything. There's only one answer to this question. You CAN NOT look at it another way. If you are, then you aren't doing math, you're making stuff up. It IS universally accepted. The fact that you can't grasp this shows me that none of you understand the distributive property, coefficients, or the order of operations. Math is black and white -- who lied and told you there were shades of grey? It is widely known that older calculators are programmed poorly, and don't distribute properly in equations that involve semi-complex fractions like this, which results in the false answer of 288. Fortunately, humans are generally smarter than machines, and can solve this error (if they really want to use a calculator to solve the problem) by including the implied brackets around the denominator, making the equation 48/[2(9+3)]. 2 is the coefficient to the term (9+3), meaning the two is actually being multiplied by the 9 and 3, despite being outside of the parentheses in the original equation. This is how math works, I learned this in the 7th grade, and it was pounded into my head all the way through calculus (when you get to simplify SUPER fun equations). Why do you think you can question this? Because you're basing your opinion on flawed technology? Because you don't actually know how to do basic algebra? That is not a reason to doubt me.

Like I said, I'm done.

 

[Pyro Paul]

But that's exactly it. 2(9+3) =/= 2*(9+3), they are saying different things, and that's what you guys aren't understanding.

No, I understand perfectly. But that's just ONE opinion. You can't state that 2(9+3) =/= 2*(9+3) as a FACT. You can't. It's not universally accepted as such even by mathematicians (e.g. teachers). The very page you yourself linked to says exactly that.

So you have to allow for the fact that, to some of us, 2(9+3) == 2*(9+3). And we are NOT wrong. Just like you are not wrong that they aren't equal. Therefore either answer is correct, depending on how you view that equation.

Do you see what I mean?

but it is fact...

2 is a coefficient of the expression 9+3.
it is explained in basic algebra and is held as a staple through statistics and trig...

n(x+y). n is the Coefficent of, and is a like value(multipule) of all variables expressed.

2(x+y) is still described as a coefficent.
but now we are assuming x = 9 and y = 3

explain how does that negate 2 from being a coefficent to the expression?

 

[Joseph Webb]

None of you understand math. This is ridiculous. I'm done. Once you pass algebra, get back to me. I've tried time and time again to show you guys what a coefficient is, and how to write this type of problem down. You don't understand the basic rules of math, I can't help you.

And please do not send me an e-mail either asking for or else proffering a definitive verdict on this issue. As far as I know, there is no such final verdict. And telling me to do this your way will not solve the issue

As far as I know, there is no such final verdict.

]there is no such final verdict.

Grow up man.

...Those last three quotes aren't from me. Just by the way.

 

[Pyro Paul]

None of you understand math. This is ridiculous. I'm done. Once you pass algebra, get back to me. I've tried time and time again to show you guys what a coefficient is, and how to write this type of problem down. You don't understand the basic rules of math, I can't help you.

And please do not send me an e-mail either asking for or else proffering a definitive verdict on this issue. As far as I know, there is no such final verdict. And telling me to do this your way will not solve the issue

As far as I know, there is no such final verdict.

]there is no such final verdict.

Grow up man.

you know that on the link, the last paragraph was describing weither or not in normal standards xy has priority in calculation over x*y... right?

in the equation
w/xy verses w/x*y.

some professors will expand that Variables can be expressions and as such xy is an expression which occurs as if it was in parentheses where as other professors will explain that variables are just values and thus any calculation occurs through normal order of operations with the assumption that xy = x*y.

this has nothing to do with w/x which is quiet clear on the matter that x goes first.

 

[DanDanikov]

Both answers are correct/wrong because the question is ambiguous. Both subtraction and division are non-commutative, which means to ye laymen out there that order matters. 3 - 2 != 2 - 3. 4/2 != 2/4.

We can normally solve this issue by using unit inverses as part of the term, so instead of thinking as 3 - 2, we think of 2 + -1(2) = -1(2) + 2. Equally, for division we can turn 4/2 into 4 * (1/2) = (1/2) * 4. Another approach is polish notation, as previously noted, which is incapable of ambiguity. Operator precedence is a third way of solving the ambiguity, but is somewhat arbitrary and could be easily reversed (it'd just change the 'normal' way of writing things). Finally, braces were introduced as a catch-all ambiguity breaker. Unfortunately, for this expression, none of these were used.

Algebraically, the ambiguity can be expressed by:

48/2(9+3) -> a = 48, b = 2, c = (9+3) = 12,

This gives a/bc, which can be read as both:

a/(bc) = 48 / (2 * 12) = 2 <-- this answer makes more sense algebraically
(a/b)c = (48 / 2) * 12 = 288 <-- this answer makes more sense looking at the numbers, and using the standard taught operator precedence, e.g. BODMAS or equivalent

 

[TiefBlau]

No, it most certainly is a math issue. People have been taught the order of operations wrong if they got 2. There's no room for interpretation here any more than there is room for interpretation as to what 4-3+2 equals (spoiler: it's not -1).

There is room if the symbol "-" wasn't used universally the same way...

The problem is that the "/" symbol being used isn't even the right symbol for it because your keyboard doesn't have the proper mathematical one but it's the "slash", which is used in grammar, while the one that should be used for math is the solidus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solidus_%28punctuation%29#Mathematics http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slash_%28punctuation%29#Arithmetic

Look what happens if i copy paste it: 123&#8260;456 See, even without the more hand writing like formatting it's still different from 123/456...

Because the sign hasn't been used that long there are still places where there's no imediate implication that the "/" sign is only for the numbers right next to it, as in hand written text the way it's placed is obvious and thus doesn't need to use x/(y+z).

Of course that doesn't mean some people here aren't screwing up the order of operations, the point is that the original way the operation is presented can easily be confusing... and that's why i for one won't vote in the poll without more clarification...

Ew, a fraction bar. Just...eww.

There's a mighty fine reason why fraction bars are almost always, always horizontal. Putting it in such a way makes sure you never need to worry about any sort of ambiguity with parentheses.

Use of one-line solidus is so rare and so downright stupid that you're better off just assuming it doesn't exist.

And besides, I'm plenty certain the operation everyone believes is being performed here is division, not solidus.

 

[Bearjing]

It saddens me that 2 is at 43.5%

 

[Drago-Morph]

According to my 8th grade education, the problem is 288. Add the 9 and 3, divide the 48 and 2, multiply the 24 and 12. Of course, there could be some fancy college learnin' that I have yet to get through, rendering this a trick question.

It's not fancy it's an 8th grade problem, nothing more. Your 8th grade education failed you.

Expand the brakets so 2 times 9 then 2 times 3. so you get 18 and 6 plus them to gether you get 24 then divide 48 by 24 to get 2.

Or you could plus 9 and 3 to get 12 then times by 2 to get 24 then divide 48 by 24. It's order in which you do things that you get the right answer.

I don't see why you would do either of those orders. Sure, you can, but as I said, the accepted answer would be 288, unless using the PEMDAS system. However, as I said, my 8th grade education said my 3rd grade PEMDAS education was incorrect, so I naturally went with the higher level teaching.

 

[sam42ification]

It saddens me that 2 is at 43.5%

Agreed

According to my 8th grade education, the problem is 288. Add the 9 and 3, divide the 48 and 2, multiply the 24 and 12. Of course, there could be some fancy college learnin' that I have yet to get through, rendering this a trick question.

It's not fancy it's an 8th grade problem, nothing more. Your 8th grade education failed you.

Expand the brakets so 2 times 9 then 2 times 3. so you get 18 and 6 plus them to gether you get 24 then divide 48 by 24 to get 2.

Or you could plus 9 and 3 to get 12 then times by 2 to get 24 then divide 48 by 24. It's order in which you do things that you get the right answer.

I don't see why you would do either of those orders. Sure, you can, but as I said, the accepted answer would be 288, unless using the PEMDAS system. However, as I said, my 8th grade education said my 3rd grade PEMDAS education was incorrect, so I naturally went with the higher level teaching.

What the hell is PEMDAS? Is it somthing they do in america? Any ways the way i was taught was
48/2(9+3)
2 times 9
2 times 3
plus the result
divide.
Because there is a 2 outside of the brakets mean you have to expand them before doing anything else. (Expanding is when you times the number outs side the brakets to everything inside them). if you do this you get 48/24. Do you understand how expanding works? the accepted answer is wrong. the answer is 2 it makes sense. In your comment you said "the problem is 288. Add the 9 and 3, divide the 48 and 2, multiply the 24 and 12." You got the first part right add the 9 and 3 but then you divided 48 by which is a later step before you divide you have to times the 12 (which you got from adding 9 and 3) and the 2 so you get 48 divided by 24. You have to do things in the right order and the dividing step comes last you always expand the brakets.

 

[Drago-Morph]

It saddens me that 2 is at 43.5%

Agreed

According to my 8th grade education, the problem is 288. Add the 9 and 3, divide the 48 and 2, multiply the 24 and 12. Of course, there could be some fancy college learnin' that I have yet to get through, rendering this a trick question.

It's not fancy it's an 8th grade problem, nothing more. Your 8th grade education failed you.

Expand the brakets so 2 times 9 then 2 times 3. so you get 18 and 6 plus them to gether you get 24 then divide 48 by 24 to get 2.

Or you could plus 9 and 3 to get 12 then times by 2 to get 24 then divide 48 by 24. It's order in which you do things that you get the right answer.

I don't see why you would do either of those orders. Sure, you can, but as I said, the accepted answer would be 288, unless using the PEMDAS system. However, as I said, my 8th grade education said my 3rd grade PEMDAS education was incorrect, so I naturally went with the higher level teaching.

What the hell is PEMDAS? Is it somthing they do in america? Any ways the way i was taught was
48/2(9+3)
2 times 9
2 times 3
plus the result
divide.
Because there is a 2 outside of the brakets mean you have to expand them before doing anything else. (Expanding is when you times the number outs side the brakets to everything inside them). if you do this you get 48/24. Do you understand how expanding works? the accepted answer is wrong. the answer is 2 it makes sense. In your comment you said "the problem is 288. Add the 9 and 3, divide the 48 and 2, multiply the 24 and 12." You got the first part right add the 9 and 3 but then you divided 48 by which is a later step before you divide you have to times the 12 (which you got from adding 9 and 3) and the 2 so you get 48 divided by 24. You have to do things in the right order and the dividing step comes last you always expand the brakets.

I understood what expanding was, but that's not what you're supposed to do. You need to add the numbers inside the parentheses before going left-to-right at the beginning of the problem, dividing the 48 by 2 before multiplying it by 12.

And PEMDAS is: parentheses (as in, do whatever is inside the parentheses first), exponents, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction. You're following it, but as I said, my later education explained to me that PEMDAS was incorrect. I can see what you're doing, all I'm saying is that I was taught that it was wrong.

 

[flippedthebitch]

What if you look at s simple question like 5-3+2? Do you not read this left to right?

Exactly. You can do 5 -3 + 2 or 2 -3 +5 or -3 + 5 + 2 or 2 + 5 -3. Please correct me if I'm wrong. (I'm not.)

Im really lost as to what your arguement is here. These are all equal to one another because you do the addition and subraction in order from left to right. Thus proving my point, that the order of the operations is important. If the order didnt matter, then 5-3+2 could just as easily be 0 if you do the addition first, but you don't, because you read the equation left to right.