Quote:
Originally Posted by Ellie May  Ok sooo for the quadratic we can have a really long numerator that I don't want to retype over 2(a). In this case we are expected to multiply 2 by a. But then in this other problem we don't multiple 2 by 12 because the () just disappear? I can see how both ways could be right. It's just that by closeness to teh () I woule automatically multiply 2(12). There is no clear way to tell if the 12 is prat of the denominator or if it is not part of the division problem at all. Brackets or not, the 2 touching the () tells me to multiply by what is in the () and I have to clear () first. |
I would agree, except for the order of operations that dictates we must go from L to R and treat multiplication and division the same after we deal with what is INSIDE the parenthesis. Once I'm done inside, it doesnt matter if 2 is married to another parenthesis, it's just another multiplication that has to be done from L to R. Therefore 48/2*12 = 288 for me.
ETA: if you had 48/(2*12) then I would agree that the answer is 2 but I dont see that in this problem.