Math Problem

Hi all my smart Livejournalers/dreamwidthers. There is a debate over on The Escapist forums about this equation:

48/2(9+3)

The answer I got for this was 288--along with 56% of the answering population.
The other 44% got 2 as an answer.

Much heated discussion of PEMDAS/BOMDAS has followed.

I read the equation like so:
48/2(9+3)
48/2*12
then since division and multiplication are equal in precedance:
24*12
288

But others are reading the entire 2(9+3) as the denominator of a fraction with 48 as the numerator getting this:
48/2(9+3)
48/2*12
48/24
2

I'd thought I ask my very intelligent and math savvy people on my journal what your take on this math problem is. What say you all?

Here is the thread if you want to read some of it. It goes on 14 pages.
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.275879-Poll-What-is-the-answer-to-48-2-9-3?page=1