Where is the poll option for the writer of the problem was an idiot for not explicity putting in all necessary math symbols?
In other words, this formula:
x = 2(3)
is just in really, really poor form. Is that a multiplication that is wanted? Is that x = a function 2 of 3? Is that x = 2 to the power of 3? Is that some other notation that none of us has seen but has specific meaning elsewhere? Is that x = 2 or 3? Is that x = 2 with a numerical footnote that gives reference to the value of x? It just sucks how it is written.
Put the proper symbols where they belong and far fewer people would get it wrong.
48÷2 * (9+3) = ?