Mathematical dispute

[Vertigo-X]

Ssenkahdavic said:

48 ÷2(3+9) = 2

48 ÷2 * (3+9) = 288

Since the equation in question is written as the top example, that is "llikely" the answer that they are looking for.  You could make a very strong argument for either case.

Funny thing is, I went and looked in an old math book to see how they answered a like equation.  I could not find one written like the above (they would put the extra 48 ÷(2(3+9)) or( 48 ÷2)(3+9) but never without them.)

The top example is assuming the distributive property is a part of the order of operations; it's not. 2(3+9) is the same thing as 2*(3+9) in terms of the orders of operation.

 

EDIT: It also suggests that multiplication is to be used before division, which isn't the case.