A brain teaser, What is the answer to this problem? 48 / 2(9 + 3) =?

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3 Answers

Didge Doo Profile
Didge Doo answered

Surely the rule is brackets first which can only give an answer of 2.

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HelpStop AnimalAbuse
HelpStop AnimalAbuse commented
It depends. Usually, math has one right answer, but in this case, the order of operations can get a little quirky.

There are two ways to solve this. First, like so:
48 / 2 × (9 + 3) = ?
48 / 2 × (12) = ?
24 × 12 = 288

But another, arguably valid way is:
48 / 2 × (9 + 3) = ?
48 / 2 × (12) = ?
48 / 24 = 2

Well done sir!!
Daniel Archie Profile
Daniel Archie answered

Some say 2 and some say 288, but actually number multiplication can't omit a multiple sign so it makes no sense at all...

1 Person thanked the writer.
HelpStop AnimalAbuse
HelpStop AnimalAbuse commented
It depends. Usually, math has one right answer, but in this case, the order of operations can get a little quirky.

There are two ways to solve this. First, like so:
48 / 2 × (9 + 3) = ?
48 / 2 × (12) = ?
24 × 12 = 288

But another, arguably valid way is:
48 / 2 × (9 + 3) = ?
48 / 2 × (12) = ?
48 / 24 = 2

Well thought out!!
Maurice Korvo Profile
Maurice Korvo answered

If you use PEMDAS, which is the accepted method for doing mathematics,  it works out to 2  PEMDAS? Powers, Exponents, Multiply, Divide, Add, Subtract.

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