48/2(9+3) - 5

Pazx · 08-09-2012

MD and AS are always equal priority, left to right. If you think otherwise, you're wrong. If you distribute, you're wrong. Plain and simple.

Cat612 · 08-09-2012

Posted by Pazx

MD and AS are always equal priority, left to right. If you think otherwise, you're wrong. If you distribute, you're wrong. Plain and simple.

Yes, if you do it left to right you get 288.

iCool · 08-09-2012

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/73192858/MT-sec-288.svg (Unsupported image host)

Pimpsy G. · 08-09-2012

Posted by Pazx

MD and AS are always equal priority, left to right. If you think otherwise, you're wrong. If you distribute, you're wrong. Plain and simple.

What about if you treat it like this?

48
__________
2(9+3)

Posted by Cat612

I'm too lazy to read through the answers, but

48/2(9+3)
Add 9+3 first (PEMDAS, P=parentheses)
Then it doesn't matter if you divide or multiply next, you'll get 288 in the end.

I think the problem is that people don't know that the M and D in PEMDAS are interchangeable, meaning one doesn't come before the other, but of you come across them together you do it in order of left to right.

Edit: checked my solution with Wolfram Alpha
http://m.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=48%2f2(9%2b3)

You put it into a calculator wrong, you need to put it in like: 48/(2(9+3)) since its a fraction and 2(9+3) is in the denominator. Thats how we do everything in calculus. If you dont treat it like a fraction, it will go through the order of operations and result in 288. All calculators have this problem.

Crono · 08-09-2012

Posted by Pazx

MD and AS are always equal priority, left to right. If you think otherwise, you're wrong. If you distribute, you're wrong. Plain and simple.

But the writing of the question itself is kind of...awkward. I don't think I've even seen the division sign used like this since middle school. In highschool they always wrote the fractions out properly. Calculators also assume that the statement "48/2(9+3)" is implying you do the "bottom" half first. Everything after / is part of the denominator. It's not 48 divided by 2 and then multiplied by 12.

I tried writing it out this way to just test it out:

Instead of (9+3) (which we know is 12, lol) I replaced it with a simple 'x':

48/2x = 2

and

48/2x = 288

If the answer is correct, it will give you x = 12.

For = 2:
48/2x = 2
48/x = 4
48 = 4x
x = 12.

For = 288:
48/2x = 288
48/x = 576
48 = 576x
x = 0.08333...

So it's 2.

With this particular thread title it's 2, but if you used a division sign instead of the "/" then it would be 288. In higher levels of math you don't use the division sign for a reason, because it's vague and sucks.

/ and ÷ are different.

Pimpsy G. · 08-09-2012

Posted by Pazx

MD and AS are always equal priority, left to right. If you think otherwise, you're wrong. If you distribute, you're wrong. Plain and simple.

If you don't treat "/" like a fraction, you're wrong.

Someone close this thread now please, its 2. There is no "Paradox". lol.

Cat612 · 08-09-2012

Edit: it's crap like this that makes me hate math.

Blueh · 08-09-2012

I died a little bit on the inside after reading everyone being all butthurt and confused.

iHot · 08-09-2012

20 gralats we have a few little kids going... Whatttttttttt????

Talon · 08-09-2012

Posted by Pimpsy G.

If you don't treat "/" like a fraction, you're wrong.

Someone close this thread now please, its 2. There is no "Paradox". lol.

That's the issue with the equation. It isn't a '/', but the division notation.

iHot · 08-09-2012

PEMDAS user=2
BEDMAS user=288
Why use pemdas when bedmas is so much easier?

Talon · 08-09-2012

I can just as easily say PEMDAS is PEDMSA, because the MD and AS groupings have equal precedence when solving the equation, therefore they must be done left to right.

iHot · 08-09-2012

Searched this problem up on google it gave me 288.

Pazx · 08-09-2012

A simple googling of PEMDAS will solve all your problems. M and D are interchangeable, and so are A and S.

Crono · 08-10-2012

Posted by iHot

PEMDAS user=2
BEDMAS user=288
Why use pemdas when bedmas is so much easier?

The thing is, the answer to this question has nothing to do with that. It has to do with the poor wording of the question. If you use ÷, you'd get 288 while using / will give you 2.

÷ is a ****ty math symbol and you won't really find it beyond middle school...atleast I didn't. The question itself is poorly written.

What's funny is that if you do the same backwards logic that I did above...

48÷2(9+3)

(9+3) will always = 12. So we replace (9+3) with x and know that if the answer is 2 or 288, x must = 12.

48 ÷ 2x = 2 -> 24x = 2 => x = 0.08333...

48 ÷ 2x = 288 -> 24x = 288 => x = 12

If you use ÷ in the original question, the answer is 288. If you use / in the original question, the answer is 2.

ofc they're trying to trick you with order of operations, but that's the lesser concern. the bigger one is the confusion between / and ÷.

^___^.........i hate math

Poll Results: What was your outcome?
63.04%	288
36.96%	2
Voters: 46. You may not vote on this poll

08-09-2012	61
Pazx amateur gay Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 3,372	MD and AS are always equal priority, left to right. If you think otherwise, you're wrong. If you distribute, you're wrong. Plain and simple.

08-09-2012	63
iCool Banned Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Bedroom Posts: 163	https://dl.dropbox.com/u/73192858/MT-sec-288.svg (Unsupported image host)

08-09-2012	67
Cat612 Scientist Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: California, USA Posts: 1,491	Edit: it's crap like this that makes me hate math.

08-09-2012	68
Blueh The Orator Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Yes Posts: 3,307	I died a little bit on the inside after reading everyone being all butthurt and confused.

08-09-2012	69
iHot Graalian Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Belle Isle Posts: 4,481	20 gralats we have a few little kids going... Whatttttttttt????

08-09-2012	72
Talon don't call it a comeback Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 8,268	I can just as easily say PEMDAS is PEDMSA, because the MD and AS groupings have equal precedence when solving the equation, therefore they must be done left to right.