Evaluate expressions inside parentheses first

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 5 views

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Introduction

In this article, we will evaluate a given mathematical expression step by step. The expression is: $-10 + 6 - 6 + 3 + 4 + \frac{6}{2} + 6 - 3$ . We will follow the order of operations (PEMDAS) to simplify the expression and find the final result.

Understanding the Order of Operations

The order of operations is a set of rules that tells us which operations to perform first when we have multiple operations in an expression. PEMDAS is a popular acronym that stands for:

Parentheses: Evaluate expressions inside parentheses first.
Exponents: Evaluate any exponential expressions next (e.g., 2^3).
Multiplication and Division: Evaluate any multiplication and division operations from left to right.
Addition and Subtraction: Finally, evaluate any addition and subtraction operations from left to right.

Evaluating the Expression

Let's start evaluating the expression step by step:

Step 1: Evaluate Expressions Inside Parentheses

There are no expressions inside parentheses in this problem, so we can move on to the next step.

Step 2: Evaluate Exponents

There are no exponential expressions in this problem, so we can move on to the next step.

Step 3: Evaluate Multiplication and Division

The only division operation in this problem is $\frac{6}{2}$ . We can evaluate this expression as follows:

$\frac{6}{2} = 3$

So, the expression becomes:

$-10 + 6 - 6 + 3 + 4 + 3 + 6 - 3$

Step 4: Evaluate Addition and Subtraction

Now, we can evaluate the addition and subtraction operations from left to right:

$-10 + 6 = -4$ $-4 - 6 = -10$ $-10 + 3 = -7$ $-7 + 4 = -3$ $-3 + 3 = 0$ $0 + 6 = 6$ $6 - 3 = 3$

Therefore, the final result of the expression is:

$3$

Conclusion

In this article, we evaluated a given mathematical expression step by step using the order of operations (PEMDAS). We started by evaluating expressions inside parentheses, then exponents, followed by multiplication and division, and finally addition and subtraction. The final result of the expression is $3$ .

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the order of operations?

A: The order of operations is a set of rules that tells us which operations to perform first when we have multiple operations in an expression. PEMDAS is a popular acronym that stands for: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, and Addition and Subtraction.

Q: How do I evaluate expressions using the order of operations?

A: To evaluate expressions using the order of operations, follow these steps:

Evaluate expressions inside parentheses first.
Evaluate any exponential expressions next.
Evaluate any multiplication and division operations from left to right.
Finally, evaluate any addition and subtraction operations from left to right.

Q: What is the final result of the expression $-10 + 6 - 6 + 3 + 4 + \frac{6}{2} + 6 - 3$ ?

A: The final result of the expression is $3$ .

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Introduction

In our previous article, we evaluated a given mathematical expression step by step using the order of operations (PEMDAS). In this article, we will provide a Q&A guide to help you understand and evaluate mathematical expressions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the order of operations?

Q: How do I evaluate expressions using the order of operations?

A: To evaluate expressions using the order of operations, follow these steps:

Evaluate expressions inside parentheses first: Any expressions inside parentheses should be evaluated first.
Evaluate any exponential expressions next: Any exponential expressions (e.g., 2^3) should be evaluated next.
Evaluate any multiplication and division operations from left to right: Any multiplication and division operations should be evaluated from left to right.
Finally, evaluate any addition and subtraction operations from left to right: Any addition and subtraction operations should be evaluated from left to right.

Q: What is the difference between PEMDAS and BODMAS?

A: PEMDAS and BODMAS are two popular acronyms that represent the order of operations. PEMDAS stands for Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, and Addition and Subtraction, while BODMAS stands for Brackets, Orders, Division, Multiplication, Addition, and Subtraction. Both acronyms represent the same order of operations, but with slightly different wording.

Q: How do I handle negative numbers in mathematical expressions?

A: When evaluating mathematical expressions with negative numbers, remember to follow the order of operations. For example, in the expression $-10 + 6$ , the negative sign is part of the number $-10$ , not a separate operation. Therefore, we should evaluate the expression as follows:

$-10 + 6 = -4$

Q: What is the difference between a fraction and a decimal?

A: A fraction is a way of expressing a part of a whole, while a decimal is a way of expressing a fraction as a numerical value. For example, the fraction $\frac{1}{2}$ is equal to the decimal $0.5$ .

Q: How do I evaluate expressions with multiple fractions?

A: When evaluating expressions with multiple fractions, we should follow the order of operations. For example, in the expression $\frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{3}$ , we should first find a common denominator (in this case, 6) and then add the fractions:

$\frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{3} = \frac{3}{6} + \frac{2}{6} = \frac{5}{6}$

Q: What is the difference between a variable and a constant?

A: A variable is a symbol that represents a value that can change, while a constant is a value that remains the same. For example, in the expression $x + 5$ , $x$ is a variable, while $5$ is a constant.

Q: How do I evaluate expressions with variables?

A: When evaluating expressions with variables, we should follow the order of operations. For example, in the expression $2x + 5$ , we should first evaluate the expression inside the parentheses (in this case, none) and then multiply the variable $x$ by the coefficient $2$ :

$2x + 5$

Q: What is the difference between an equation and an expression?

A: An equation is a statement that says two expressions are equal, while an expression is a mathematical statement that contains variables, constants, and operators. For example, the equation $2x + 5 = 10$ is an equation, while the expression $2x + 5$ is an expression.

Conclusion

In this article, we provided a Q&A guide to help you understand and evaluate mathematical expressions. We covered topics such as the order of operations, evaluating expressions with negative numbers, fractions, and variables, and the difference between an equation and an expression. We hope this guide has been helpful in your understanding of mathematical expressions.