Solve 48÷2(9+3)

[!Luck]

Calculate.

A(Graham's number,Graham's number)

Go!

[Lukie]

my TI-83 plus, TI-89, windows vista calculator (in scientific mode), and google calculator all give 288.

it appears that multiplication via juxtaposition having precedence over explicit multiplication and division has a pretty wide following, but nobody seems to know where it came from. I still feel that the order of operations are pretty clear on this, i.e. the original problem (obelus and all) is mathematically unambiguous.

[a500lbgorilla]

my TI-83 plus, TI-89, windows vista calculator (in scientific mode), and google calculator all give 288.

it appears that multiplication via juxtaposition having precedence over explicit multiplication and division has a pretty wide following, but nobody seems to know where it came from. I still feel that the order of operations are pretty clear on this, i.e. the original problem (obelus and all) is mathematically unambiguous.

You are incorrect. The original problem is mathematically ambiguous. The reasons why are contained within this thread.

[Lukie]

TI-85 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The TI-85 was a graphing calculator made by Texas Instruments based around the Zilog Z80 microprocessor. Designed in 1992 as TI's second graphing calculator (the first was the TI-81), it has since been replaced by the TI-86, which has also been discontinued.
The TI-85 was significantly more powerful than the TI-81, as it was designed as a calculator primarily for use in engineering and calculus courses. Texas Instruments had included a version of BASIC on the device to allow programming. Each calculator came with a cable to connect calculators (simply a three-conductor cable with 2.5 mm jack plugs on each end). Another cable known as the TI-Graph Link was also sold, along with appropriate software, to connect the calculator to a personal computer. These cables made it possible to save programs and make backups.

From what I understand, the TI-85 was programmed with slightly different rules governing the order of operations. It's very telling that they corrected this with the second/newer version (i.e. the TI-86)

[a500lbgorilla]

TI-85 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



From what I understand, the TI-85 was programmed with slightly different rules governing the order of operations. It's very telling that they corrected this with the second/newer version (i.e. the TI-86)

Exactly though nothing is necessarily 'telling' and nothing was necessarily 'corrected'. As there is no authority to decide which of the two orders of operations are correct, the problem is truly mathematically ambiguous.

I agree with you on your assessment of which order of operations is proper, but others taught other rules would disagree.

[CBAT]

You are incorrect. The original problem is mathematically ambiguous. The reasons why are contained within this thread.

epic