April 10, 2011

48÷2(9+3) Problem. Answers from Calculators

The problem of 48÷2(9+3) becomes an issue again over the world. What's yours? 2 or 288?

First, parenthesis implicates 'multiply', so
48÷2(9+3) = 48÷2*(9+3) = 48÷2*12 = 24*12 = 288.
Second, by the distributive law,
48÷2(9+3) = 48÷(2*9+2*3) = 48÷(18+6) = 48÷24 = 2.


It's still arguable. How about calculators?

Google's Answer : 288

web2.0calc: 288

Some Scientific Calculators: Invalid Input - the parenthesis can't be followed by digit directly. My cellphone calculator display same error.  Most online calculators show the error.

Calculator for Chemists: 0.22... OMG... (see the site)

MS Windows's Calculator: 12 ? I guess the calculator ignore the inputs before the parenthesis

Commercial Scientific Calculators: depending on model number. (...)


What's the answer!!!