Thread: 48÷2(9+3)=?

Originally Posted by lutherf

You two are suggesting that since the "answer" is 288 then the equation:

48÷2x=288 is true when x=(9+3)

The equation above indicates "48 divided by twice the value of x equals 288".

no it doesn't. it suggests that 48 divided by 2 times x equals 288. in other words, it suggests that 48 times one half times x equals 288...which would mean x equals 12.

Originally Posted by Garandimal

Of course they are...

Wow. You want to complain about the dumbing down of America, and you post that as your response?

Originally Posted by lutherf

You two are suggesting that since the "answer" is 288 then the equation:

48÷2x=288 is true when x=(9+3)

The equation above indicates "48 divided by twice the value of x equals 288". Since that is the case x would have to equal 1/12 for the equation to be true.

If we wanted to do things "your way" we would have to read the equation as "the quotient of 48 divided by 2, when multiplied by x, equals 288". I can't think of one good reason to interpret the equation that way because if that was the intent then it would have made infinitely more sense to have simply written:

24x=288

The equation would make infinitely more sense if it was written any way but the way it was written.

People are interpreting it as either:

• (48÷2)(9+3)=288
• 48÷[2(9+3)]=2

I personally think the second option requires more assumptions than the first. If were to follow the order of operations, we'd do the parentheses first and then after that, work the equation from left to right, which means the 48÷2 would be override 2*12.

Originally Posted by bg85

no it doesn't. it suggests that 48 divided by 2 times x equals 288. in other words, it suggests that 48 times one half times x equals 288...which would mean x equals 12.

I will never understand how you can read that as anything other than 48 divided by the product of 2*x. As far as I'm concerned you're just being an obstinate pain in the ass

Originally Posted by bg85

no it doesn't. it suggests that 48 divided by 2 times x equals 288. in other words, it suggests that 48 times one half times x equals 288...which would mean x equals 12.

That bolded part is also ambiguous. When you write that are you intending it to mean "the quotient of 48 divided by 2....." or "48 divided by the product of 2 and x"?

Clearly, the answer is 288:

YouTube - 48÷2(9+3) - Hitler parody

Originally Posted by lutherf

I will never understand how you can read that as anything other than 48 divided by the product of 2*x. As far as I'm concerned you're just being an obstinate pain in the ass

It is mainly because you do not grasp the order of operations and are the one being an obstinate pain in the ass.

Originally Posted by lutherf

That bolded part is also ambiguous. When you write that are you intending it to mean "the quotient of 48 divided by 2....." or "48 divided by the product of 2 and x"?

48, divided by 2, times x

48, times 1/2, times x

those are equivalent expressions.

This is actually the most political thread ever. It conclusively proves that democracy does not work.

Originally Posted by bg85

but sadanie, division IS multiplication!

like i've said many times before in this thread, that "/2" is actually a "*(1/2)"

that's about as clear as i can make it.

You are partially right. but to make this division (divided by 2) a multiplication, you had to make 2 a fraction and it becomes 1/2, no longer 2!

It is very different!

If you use the division, you get 48/2 = 24
If you use the multiplication WITHOUT changing the 2 to a fraction (1/2), you would get, 48*2 and it would be 96

However, if you make the 2 a fraction you would still get the same result
48*1/2 = 24

So, in order to make a division into a multiplication, you have to CHANGE the original number into a fraction of the original number, which is a lot more complicated and totally unnecessary! Why complicate things?

Originally Posted by Speakeasy

...but you're solving the parentheses, then working right to left. Multiplication and division are both the same and when confronted with that in an equation, you work them left to right. This is akin to saying "addition goes before subtraction". Both subtraction and addition are of equal precedence, so you work them left to right.

20-5+3=X
15+3=X
18=X

NOT

20-5+3=X
20-8=X
12=X

Since multiplication and division are of equal precedence, you also work them left to right (after the parentheses) in the same way as additions and subtraction:

48÷2(9+3)=X
48÷2(12)=X
24(12)=X
288=X

Sorry, you may be right, but I still don't see it.
Because, to make a division into a multiplication, you need to CHANGE the original number into a fraction of that number!
So, 48/2(9+3) = 2
is very different then 48*2(9+3) =288
but is the same as 48*1/2(9+3)
which can also be written as 48*1/2*(9+3) = 2

Originally Posted by pramjockey

Clearly, the answer is 288:

YouTube - 48÷2(9+3) - Hitler parody

So...in essence....BG is Hitler?

SWEET!

You are organizing a tail-gate party and want to make sandwiches.

You expect ~ fifty (50) people.

You call the Deli, and they tell you that an $8.95 pack of cold-cuts and a $2.99 bag or rolls makes two dozen (24) sandwiches.


So... for the party, about how many sandwiches can you pay off for every dollar you collect for supplies?