Typically, when writing math problems on a computer, unless your using microsoft equation editor or some other symbol writing software, * is the symbol for multiplication (since x is actually the symbol of a cross-product, at least in any higher level math class). So, the correct way to have asked the question would have been (being consistant, if x is a symbol, so to must be the ? mark)
4+4+4*x*2=?
Now, I don't think you could solve this as originally stated. This is what is called a two by one system, and under specified (2 degrees of freedom?). Since if the x is unkown, so is the question mark. Rewriting to help explain, letting ?=y, 4+4+4*x*2=y. So, this is in fact a line, y=8*x+8 with a slope of 8 which crosses the y-axis at 8.
So, as written originally, I think that any reasonable person when first looking at this problem would either say that the answer is 16 or underspecified. Or, which is far more likely, poorly written.
