document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=247184>Question 247184</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I have a question about order of operations...<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The problem is<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a = 3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "18 ÷ 2a\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "My question is....can the variable be separated from the number, thereby treating it like 18 ÷ 2 * 3, resulting in the answer 27, <BR>\n" );
document.write( "or does the variable stay attached to the number 18 ÷ 2(3), resulting in the answer 3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Thanks,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Schel </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #180378 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=edjones><B>edjones(8007)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=edjones><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=edjones><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=180378\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Good question!<BR>\n" );
document.write( "A lot of questions on this site don't get answered because they are ambiguous.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Let's take a tougher one. x+1/x-2. Is this x + (1/x) -2 or (x+1)/(x-2) Parentheses clarify the issue.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "18/(2a) is a clear way to write the problem.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Another way is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=18%2F%282a%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"18%2F%282a%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "18 / 2a written this way I would give an answer of 3.<BR>\n" );
document.write( ".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Ed </SPAN>\n" );
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