Remixing my original post to make it clear.
In summary, the answer is 288...but it comes with a
warning.
First note this important fact:
Its not even ambiguous
48÷2(9+3)=288
48÷(2(9+3))= 2
48÷2(9+3) does not equal 48÷(2(9+3))
Now for the warning (although some, like Rawness, may disagree).
If you are still in school or are taking a test and see the problem written as:
48
2(9+3)
Do not convert it to 48÷2(9+3). Most likely, the teacher or test creator is implying:
48
(2(9+3))
...which is often the convention.
As I said before, a computer doesn't understand such conventions but you as a human should.
If we let a = (9+3) with:
48
2a
...it would be unwise to rewrite the problem as (48÷2)*a.
Your teacher would most likely want to see:
24
a
Again, as a human, we have conventions or can imply things that computers can't understand. That was my point.
Written like 48÷2(9+3) or when in doubt (in case written differently), simply use:
P: Parenthesis first
E: Exponents next
MD: Multiplication or Division next
AS: Addition or Subtraction last
The answer will be 288 and you will be right.
