Attention math geeks

[juliansteed]

So a couple of friends are arguing over the following problem and they came to me to tell them who was right but I'm not sure.

48 / 2 (9+3)

The "/" is meant to be an actual division sign so not everything that follows is part of the denominator.

At first I was thinking the answer was 288 but now I'm thinking it is 2. I'm thinking that the absense of the implied multiplication sign means you multiply the bracket by 2 before going from right to left. Anyone know the rule on this?

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

It depends on how it was written. I tend to agree with the 288 that you say if it was written as:

48
---- (9+3), but if it is a simple division sign 48 DIV 2 (9+3) it is 2.
2

 

[dash]

I think 2 is the correct answer (stuff inside brackets gets priority) and doesn't multiplication trump division?!?

 

[dash]

Of course, I was told there would be no math...

 

[juliansteed]

It depends on how it was written. I tend to agree with the 288 that you say if it was written as:

48
---- (9+3), but if it is a simple division sign 48 DIV 2 (9+3) it is 2.
2

Yeah it was a simple division sign. It's annoying that it doesn't appear on the keyboard, and that's why I think the answer is 2.

 

[buffhockey]

Yeah it was a simple division sign. It's annoying that it doesn't appear on the keyboard, and that's why I think the answer is 2.

Like this --> ÷

 

[juliansteed]

Like this --> ÷

Yes. How'd you do that?

 

[buffhockey]

Press and hold key ALT press num pad 246

just my 2¢

 

[juliansteed]

Press and hold key ALT press num pad 246

just my 2¢

Cool. Thanks!

 

[dash]

Press and hold key ALT press num pad 246

just my 2¢

lol

 

[buffhockey]

In case you want more:

Typing Special Characters - Microsoft Standard English (United States 101) Keyboard

 

[juliansteed]

I knew of a few of these already because I have to type letters in french sometime so I'd have to do all the é, è, à and stuff like that. Always good to know the others as well though.

 

[robV703]

So a couple of friends are arguing over the following problem and they came to me to tell them who was right but I'm not sure.

48 / 2 (9+3)

The "/" is meant to be an actual division sign so not everything that follows is part of the denominator.

At first I was thinking the answer was 288 but now I'm thinking it is 2. I'm thinking that the absense of the implied multiplication sign means you multiply the bracket by 2 before going from right to left. Anyone know the rule on this?

When you do math on a keyboard like that it pays to be clear. I would interpret that as (48/2)*(9+3), which would be 288. If it was intended to equal 2, it should be written like this: 48/(2*(9+3)) or 48/(2(9+3)) or 48/[2*(9+3)] or 48/[2(9+3)]

 

[rmilia1]

So a couple of friends are arguing over the following problem and they came to me to tell them who was right but I'm not sure.

48 / 2 (9+3)

The "/" is meant to be an actual division sign so not everything that follows is part of the denominator.

At first I was thinking the answer was 288 but now I'm thinking it is 2. I'm thinking that the absense of the implied multiplication sign means you multiply the bracket by 2 before going from right to left. Anyone know the rule on this?

Its 2

 

[juliansteed]

When you do math on a keyboard like that it pays to be clear. I would interpret that as (48/2)*(9+3), which would be 288. If it was intended to equal 2, it should be written like this: 48/(2*(9+3)) or 48/(2(9+3)) or 48/[2*(9+3)] or 48/[2(9+3)]

Well now that I know how to do so I'll type out exactly how it was expressed.

48 ÷ 2 (9+3)

 

[rmilia1]

You always do parentheses first and then you do the math of the number next to the parentheses unless there is a symbol dividing the 2. In this case there isnt so its 9+3 first, times 2 second, divided into 48 next. Its 2.

 

[juliansteed]

You always do parentheses first and then you do the math of the number next to the parentheses unless there is a symbol dividing the 2. In this case there isnt so its 9+3 first, times 2 second, divided into 48 next. Its 2.

That's what I was thinking. Correct me if I'm wrong but it looks to me like you are saying that if there was an actual multiplication sign between the 2 and the parentheses that the answer would be 288 but since there is not then it is 2? That's what my gut was telling me but I wasn't 100% sure about that rule. It's not something you see very often because outside of these silly math riddles, the questions are usually written in such a way to make it very clear what they are asking.

 

[huskers1217]

So a couple of friends are arguing over the following problem and they came to me to tell them who was right but I'm not sure.

48 / 2 (9+3)

The "/" is meant to be an actual division sign so not everything that follows is part of the denominator.

At first I was thinking the answer was 288 but now I'm thinking it is 2. I'm thinking that the absense of the implied multiplication sign means you multiply the bracket by 2 before going from right to left. Anyone know the rule on this?

 

[huskers1217]

http://www.sportshoopla.com/forums/sports-forum-general-discussion/32382-SportsHoopla-math-poll-48-2-9-3-a.html

 

[fordman84]

So a couple of friends are arguing over the following problem and they came to me to tell them who was right but I'm not sure.

48 / 2 (9+3)

The "/" is meant to be an actual division sign so not everything that follows is part of the denominator.

At first I was thinking the answer was 288 but now I'm thinking it is 2. I'm thinking that the absense of the implied multiplication sign means you multiply the bracket by 2 before going from right to left. Anyone know the rule on this?

Just tell them the answer is "46&2" and if they ask you to show your work, hold up a Virginia Tech Jersey.