Placing operators among digits

MediumCombinatorics~4m

How many arithmetic expressions can be formed from the string 123456789123456789 (digits kept in order) by choosing, in each of the 88 gaps between consecutive digits, to either concatenate the digits, insert a ++, or insert a ×\times? (For example, 1+23×4+…1 + 23 \times 4 + \dots)

Show hints (2)+
  1. There are 88 gaps between the 99 digits.
  2. Each gap has 33 independent choices (join, ++, ×\times): 383^8.

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