48÷2(9+3)

Sonar Pro (changed mind)

Vote: 288

I maintain my vote for B (288) based on strict adherence to standard order of operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS). The consensus among all deliberating models is unanimous and mathematically sound: after evaluating parentheses (9+3=12), the expression 48÷2×12 must be evaluated left-to-right for operators of equal precedence, yielding 48÷2=24, then 24×12=288. The alternative interpretation treating 2(12) as a single grouped term (resulting in 2) lacks explicit parentheses and violates the left-to-right rule. No arguments presented in this round provided compelling reason to reconsider this well-established mathematical standard.

Grok 4.1 Fast

Vote: 288

I maintain my vote for B (288). All models in round 1 unanimously converged on B after rigorous analysis, confirming the standard PEMDAS/BODMAS rule: parentheses first (9+3=12), then left-to-right for equal-precedence division/multiplication: 48 ÷ 2 = 24, 24 × 12 = 288. Sonar Pro's self-correction from initial confusion exemplifies the trap of implied multiplication precedence—a non-standard interpretation lacking parentheses for grouping (e.g., 48 ÷ (2(12))). Modern math conventions, calculators (Google, Wolfram), and programming languages reject this, prioritizing left-to-right to avoid ambiguity. No arguments swayed a change; others reinforced the consensus. A (2) is a common viral misconception. C is invalid. B is unambiguously correct.

GPT-5.4

Vote: 288

I maintain vote B. After evaluating the parentheses, the expression is 48 ÷ 2(12), which under standard classroom/operator-precedence convention is read as 48 ÷ 2 × 12. Multiplication and division have equal precedence, so they are performed left to right: 48 ÷ 2 = 24, then 24 × 12 = 288. The other models did not give a stronger reason to change because they mostly agreed with this interpretation. The only apparent support for A came from the ambiguous idea that implied multiplication should bind more tightly, but that requires treating 2(12) as a grouped denominator without explicit parentheses. That is not the standard rule used in ordinary order-of-operations parsing. So the best final answer is B: 288.

Claude Opus 4.6

Vote: 288

There is unanimous consensus among all models (including Sonar Pro who self-corrected) that 288 is the correct answer under standard order of operations. The math is straightforward: 1. Parentheses first: 9+3 = 12 2. Expression becomes 48 ÷ 2 × 12 3. Division and multiplication have equal precedence, evaluated left to right 4. 48 ÷ 2 = 24, then 24 × 12 = 288 No model presented a compelling case for answer A. The implied multiplication argument (that 2(12) should bind tighter) is not standard in modern mathematical conventions, textbooks, programming languages, or major calculators like Wolfram Alpha and Google. The answer is unambiguously 288.

Gemini 3.1 Pro

Vote: 288

I am maintaining my vote for B (288), as there is a clear consensus among the models that standard mathematical conventions (PEMDAS/BODMAS) dictate this result. As correctly pointed out by all models, the expression simplifies to 48 ÷ 2 × 12 once the parentheses are evaluated. Because division and multiplication share equal precedence, they must be executed strictly from left to right. While Sonar Pro initially cast a vote for A, its own reasoning ultimately corrected to B, acknowledging that 48 ÷ 2 = 24 and 24 × 12 = 288. The notion that juxtaposition implies a tighter binding (which would result in 2) is a historical convention not supported by modern educational standards, programming languages, or calculators like Wolfram Alpha. Therefore, B is the only mathematically sound answer under standard left-to-right evaluation.

Kimi K2.5

Vote: 288

The consensus converges on 288 through strict application of PEMDAS/BODMAS. After resolving parentheses (9+3=12), we face 48÷2×12. Multiplication and division share equal precedence and must be evaluated left-to-right: 48÷2 yields 24, then 24×12 yields 288. The argument for A (2) relies on granting implied multiplication (juxtaposition) higher precedence than explicit division, effectively inserting invisible brackets: 48÷(2×12). While some historical texts or specific calculators may do this, it violates the modern left-to-right associativity rule taught in standard curricula and used in programming languages, spreadsheets, and mathematical software like WolframAlpha. Without explicit parentheses grouping the denominator, we cannot assume 2(12) binds tighter than the division operator. The expression is unambiguously 288 under universally accepted conventions. Option C remains unmathematical.

Final Summary

The AI Roundtable stared down the internet's favorite mathematical trap and reached a unanimous verdict of 288. While Sonar Pro initially wavered toward the number 2 based on the concept of implied multiplication, it quickly self-corrected to join GPT-5.4, Claude Opus 4.6, and the rest of the group in upholding the strict left-to-right evaluation mandated by modern PEMDAS standards.

All 6 models agreed on "288" after discussion

Strongest Arguments

• 288: Modern mathematical conventions in textbooks, programming languages, and calculators like Wolfram Alpha treat multiplication and division with equal precedence, requiring them to be solved strictly from left to right.
• 2: The interpretation that implied multiplication by juxtaposition (2(12)) carries a higher priority than explicit division, effectively treating the 2 and 12 as a single inseparable term.

Key Turning Points

• Sonar Pro's mid-reasoning realization that standard mathematical conventions reject the 'implied multiplication' shortcut in favor of left-to-right associativity.
• The collective dismissal of Option C as an 'emotionally valid' but mathematically irrelevant response to the viral debate.