The order of operations says:
Parentheses - Exponents - Multiplication - Division - Addition - Subtraction
With the priority going from left to right.
By that logic, the problem should go like this:
48÷2(9+3)
48÷2(12) the parenthesis go first, naturally.
48÷24 Next comes multiplication, between the 2 and the 12.
2 Being that there is only one action left, the answer is two.
The trouble with this particular problem is that multiplication and division (like addition and subtraction) are often given the same priority status. The answer you come up with depends on what version of the order of operations your algebra teacher taught you in high school.
You also get a similar order called Brackets Of Division Multiplication Addition Subtraction.
So 48/2(12)
24(12)
288
The order of operations says:
Parentheses - Exponents - Multiplication - Division - Addition - Subtraction
With the priority going from left to right.
By that logic, the problem should go like this:
48÷2(9+3)
48÷2(12) the parenthesis go first, naturally.
48÷24 Next comes multiplication, between the 2 and the 12.
2 Being that there is only one action left, the answer is two.
The trouble with this particular problem is that multiplication and division (like addition and subtraction) are often given the same priority status. The answer you come up with depends on what version of the order of operations your algebra teacher taught you in high school.
You also get a similar order called Brackets Of Division Multiplication Addition Subtraction.
So 48/2(12)
24(12)
288
Yes... like I said, your answer varies based on whatever system you were taught in high school. This topic is less of an analysis on mathematics and more of a trap topic for people to argue a paradoxical situation.
Yeah you're right. But as I stated above I think the problem lies in whether (12) is Parenthisis or Multiplication.
Because in both orders parenthisis is before multiplication so it also depends on what your teacher taught you in terms of that as well.
[Edited by Rise_Against, 4/8/2011 2:55:35 PM]
"Parenthesis" is only concerned with operations inside the parenthesis as far as priority goes. Once there is only one number left inside the parenthesis, it just becomes something to be multiplied.
The answer to this problem boils down to whether you want to divide first, or multiply first. It is a paradox in that both answers are correct and incorrect at the same time. Neo <3 mindgames.