Quote:
Originally Posted by Phoenix
you are right
2(9+3) does not equal 2(12) it equals 24
and in this case that matters 
the same way z(9+3) is 12z. and not z X 12 |
In 2(9+3) there is NO polynomial so the distributive property doesn't apply and we can just solve for this anyway and we end up with 2(12).
IF you actually tried to distribute the 2 into the parenthesis, you'd be violating the order of operations right from the get go! Why? Because distribution is actually multiplication and you can't do multiplication before you deal with the parenthesis!
So how can you possibly claim that 2(9+3) Is NOT = 2(12)??