Recently there was a debate in a Malaysian forum (forum.lowyat.net) regarding the mathematics:

48÷2(9+3) = ?

Some answers 2, and some answers 288

There are lots of trolls or keyboard heroes in that forum, I don't really trust their answer, that's the reason I come to ask you guys. Most of them answers 288.

I am really confused. My answer is 2, this is killing me.

p/s: some other forum mentioned they use mathlab and got 288?

I get 288 Adrian, both by calculator and excel.

First I did parenthesis: 9+3 = 12
Then I did the equation in order: 48/2 = 12 * 12 = 288.

Insert a multiple operator between the 2 and the parenthesis, and you'll see why I got this.

And what is a 'keyboard hero'?

I like better trolls!!
yeah for me it is 2 as well. I first do (9+3) then 12*2= 24 (that should be the order) and then 48/24=2 .
The 288 is just because the treat the parentesis as if it were multiplying 48/2 so
48/2 * (9+3)

I made a typo in my post, I meant to say 48/2 = 24.

I don't know, LQ. Isn't it supposed to be the sum inside the parenthesis, then the multiplication and division starting at the left?

It's good there isn't an exponent in here, or we'd all be sunk.

Adrian,

it will be 288 ..... Brackets first, then division and then multiplication. (Using BODMAS)

If you use BOMDAS/ PEMDAS (as called in the US) then the answer is 2.

I knew I studied math for a reason, finnaly I can use my math skills:

48÷2(9+3) = ? you do mean that there is a "multiply sign" between the 2 and the ( ?

If so the answer is: 24 . 12 or 288.

And the rules are: Brackets first and dividing/multiplying are on the same "level" , meaning this case you go from right to left, so first dividing and then multiplying.

As some others allready mention.

To give you all the rules:

levels are : 1. Brackets, 2. Exponentiation, 3. dividing/multiplying, 4. + and -

And those are the levels.. so brackets comes first then... and when two on the same level: work from left to right (first comes, first served ).

Pitos explaination is excellent. The answer would only be 2 if the equation is written:

48/<2*(9+3)>

otherwise the calcualtion must be read as function 1 <48/2> * function 2 <(9+3)>

google gives the right answer, just try out...

Ops, should be "Keyboard Warrior" rather than "keyboard hero", my bad...

I had actually thought, by replace the 2 with A:
48÷A(9+3) = 48÷(9A+3A)= 48÷(12A) =4/A, replace A with 2, got 2 as answer...

This is because I thought (was taught) if the multiply operator was not there (as in this case), we should be given the priority to solve it first?

Exactly Geb, if the equation was written as 48÷<2 X (9+3)>, the answer is 2. That's why I am confused...


Anyway guys, thanks for the clarification.