A Little Question to Pass The Time
Day 1,706, 02:45
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Published in Canada 
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by MCMXCIlI
48÷2(9+3)😶
x=?
Thoughts on this question?
I've been looking at this question for the better half of the morning, and I think x=288, although I can also get x=2.
when I do it like this, I get 288.
48÷2(9+3)😶
x=48÷2(y) , y = (9+3)
x😞
48÷2)y , y = 12
x=24y
x=288.
When i approach it like this, where 48÷2 is not assumed to be in brackets, I get 2.
48÷2(9+3)
48÷2(12)
48÷24
2
as well, many calculators I have at home will give me 2, yet google gives me 288.
Which is right?
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48/2(12)
48/24
2
Thats how I would do it
yeah, I added that in as well...
In BEDMAS, when it comes to Mult and Div, Since both are equal, is it the first one to appear on the left is done first? cause in that case, it is 288.
It's 288 I think
You'd want to expand the brackets before you divide by two, but Im no mathematician
I agree with 2. Although I can see how 288 works. Both are valid so I pick 2 because its more efficient and less number juggling.
2 'cause 48÷2 is not in brackets.
1. Calculations must be done from left to right.
2. Calculations in brackets (parenthesis) are done first. When you have more than one set of brackets, do the inner brackets first.
3. Exponents (or radicals) must be done next.
4. Multiply and divide in the order the operations occur.
5. Add and subtract in the order the operations occur.
So
x=48÷2(9+3)
x= 48/2*12 {rule #2}
x=24*12 {rule #5}
x=288
Of course the outcome of an equation changes when you remove brackets... who'd have though?
I'd go with Sally Willis:
x = 48 / 2 * 12 = 288
instead of
x = 48 / (2 * 12), since the question didn't ask for x = 48 / [2 (9+3)]
yeah, thought so sally..
Also remember that multiply/divide have equal precedence. Divide is merely multiplication of the reciprocal.
Similarly add/subtract have equal status, so x-y+z ... the subtraction MUST come first.
Sally Willis has a great explanation here! I couldn't agree more.
Yeah, so in the case of 48÷2(9+3), The brackets must be done first,
48÷2(12)
then the ÷ comes next.
24(12)
then the multiplication.
288.
Thanks for clarifying that 😛
The process of Calculation follows an acronym...
BEDMAS
Brackets
Exponents
Division
Multiplication
Addition
Subtraction
So based on this the answer of 288 is correct.
When you enter into the calculator the brackets have to be entered, and it has to be entered as one line not as separate pieces.
Hope this helps
"Divide is merely multiplication of the reciprocal."
You blew my mind right there. What the hell's a reciprocal?