The distributive property of multiplication over addition is simply this: it makes no difference whether you add two or more terms together first, and then multiply the results by a factor, or whether you multiply each term alone by the factor first, and then add up the results.


All the distribtuive property of multiplication states is that there is no difference between 24(9+3) and 24(9) + 24(3). the distributive property of multiplication does not mean you neglect the order of operations outside of parenthesis and not go from left to right. No one is arguing that this is not correct, you simply are neglecting the proper order. If you are using the wrong factor you are going to get the wrong answer regardless of whether you distribute it to each individual number or perform the addition inside the parenthesis. The distributive property does not override the order of operation nor will it ever. Thus the fact that this equation had been written into several different codes and computer languages and still comes up as 288, the right answer.