Math Problem taking the Internet by storm

cronicmole · Apr 10, 2011

48Ã·2(9+3) = 2 or 288
http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/48÷293
http://niketalk.yuku.com/topic/294672/48-2-9-3?page=1
http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=488334

JohnnyLaw · Apr 10, 2011

It can be confusing because the notation is bad. What's your point?

iand · Apr 10, 2011

This is not a math problem. This a sequence of signs that can be interpreted in two ways depending on convention agreed upon.

ter1413 · Apr 10, 2011

godofcoffee · Apr 10, 2011

Originally Posted by iand

This is not a math problem. This a sequence of signs that can be interpreted in two ways depending on convention agreed upon.

Interesting perspective. Your argument holds true for any field that can be linguistically expressed, though - there is common agreement on the order of operations, just like there is common agreement on what a lumen is or what constitutes benzene. Disagreement implies ignorance of the field, in this case math.

binge · Apr 10, 2011

Agreed conventions on not just operator precedence, but also associativity.

Archivist · Apr 10, 2011

******* Magnets, How Do They Work?

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Garbage Mouth · Apr 10, 2011

I always thought using PEMDAS was the only way to solve problems like these. If you use it on this, you end up with 2 as your answer. Or is it something else...?

RedScarf7 · Apr 10, 2011

Notation is sloppy, but as given the answer is 288. PEMDAS says the brackets would be resolved first, than multiplication and division would be resolved from left to right.

48Ã·2(9+3)
48Ã·2(12)
24(12)
288

Answer would be 2 if it was written 48Ã·(2(9+3)). Could also argue that the answer would be 2 if it was given as 48/2(9+3) as this suggests that 2(9+3) is the denominator.

yjeezle · Apr 10, 2011

pemdas http://www.purplemath.com/modules/orderops.htm 48Ã·2(9+3) = 2 or 288 1) this needs to be read: 48 / 2(9+3) - why? 2(9+3) is a single denominator value. 2) 48 / 24 --> 2

Dakota rube · Apr 10, 2011

Granted, I have not taken a math class since before the invention of the electronic calculator, but I'd solve the problem to 2.

Harold falcon · Apr 10, 2011

Originally Posted by RedScarf7

Notation is sloppy, but as given the answer is 288. PEMDAS says the brackets would be resolved first, than multiplication and division would be resolved from left to right.

48Ã·2(9+3)
48Ã·2(12)
24(12)
288

Answer would be 2 if it was written 48Ã·(2(9+3)). Could also argue that the answer would be 2 if it was given as 48/2(9+3) as this suggests that 2(9+3) is the denominator.

I back this.

MrG · Apr 10, 2011

Originally Posted by RedScarf7

Notation is sloppy, but as given the answer is 288. PEMDAS says the brackets would be resolved first, than multiplication and division would be resolved from left to right.

48Ã·2(9+3)
48Ã·2(12)
24(12)
288

Answer would be 2 if it was written 48Ã·(2(9+3)). Could also argue that the answer would be 2 if it was given as 48/2(9+3) as this suggests that 2(9+3) is the denominator.

This is how I solved it, and I agree with your comments on notation.

yoyodunno · Apr 10, 2011

Originally Posted by yjeezle

pemdas http://www.purplemath.com/modules/orderops.htm 48Ã·2(9+3) = 2 or 288 1) this needs to be read: 48 / 2(9+3) - why? 2(9+3) is a single denominator value. 2) 48 / 24 --> 2
If it was (2(2+3)) as the guy showed earlier the final answer would be two. The answer as written is 288, it's not rocket science.

Pantisocrat · Apr 10, 2011

answer is 2

Math Problem taking the Internet by storm

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