6x² + 1/(4x+2x+1)

6x² + 1/(4x+2x+1)

lol

=48/2*(3+9) In excel is equal to 288.

I also think that it's equal to 288. It's a little ambiguous. The only reason you would multiply 2*(12) is if the bracket (3+9) was in the denominator of the fraction 48/2.

Well the answer is 1 for me.

6x² + x/x(6x+1) = 6x² + x/6x² + x = 1

We will have to agree to disagree but honestly, the first equation that i gave you, i would have solved it just like you, but the second one indicates that the x before the parenthesis is part of the parenthesis and should not be dealt with until you solve everything inside and beside the parenthesis. 

Since no one has replied (however I am sure you worked it out already), I will reply.

BODMAS = PEDMAS

maiinly used in UK and Australia (i guess any commonwealth country)

brackets = parentheses

orders = exponents

the rest = same

I do MAths at University, and it's 2.

It's BODMAS. That's:

Brackets
Order (Power)
Division
Multiplication
Addition
Subtraction

In order of importance in a calculation.

Why thank you kind sir ;)

The problem here is the misuse of the distributive property and a failure to consider the tiering of multiplication and division. 2 is not part of the parentheses. It is just simple multiplication. Try thinking of it as forty eight halves instead of 48 divided by 2. I am sorry but there is only one right answer especially considering the temperature equations have a similar format.

I think they should have written: 48/(2(3+9)) if they wanted to make sure that the answer is 2.

Still, I'm not too certain if the number 2 is part of the brackets or not. And different mathematicians come up with different answers so I really don't see the discussion value.

In school I was taught that there may be two different ways of solving this, by the way.

On your first part, that is right. If you solve the parenthesis portion first, the resulting number becomes ordinary; there is no special rule that applies to it. Simply having the two next to it doesn't mean it's automatically distributed; the distributive property is a way of simplifying  and not an actual order of operation.

Like you said, if people want to get two for an answer, they'd need to place brackets around the two and the parenthesis. Think of it this way: how would you put this into a calculator? You'd put additional brackets around the 2(3+9) if you wanted the answer to be two. :)

Please notice that i have never stated that my intention is to prove that there is only one correct way to solve this equation. Rather i was wondering if my initial findings, that people educated in the west tend to answer 288 and people educated in the eastern parts of the world  tend to answer 2, are valid. 

I actually put this thread up on a forum in Russia and i am starting to think that i was correct. Obviously vgchartz houses more people from western countries than otherwise and here i'm witnessing more people asnwer 288 and in Russia vice versa.

so let's just call it a social experiment on my side ;)