Monday, July 2, 2012

Order of operations practice

Using the rules of order of operations, find the values of the following expressions.

a) 2(3² - 5)

b) 2(3 - 5)² 

c) 2²(3 - 5)

d) 2 × 3² - 5 

e) (2 × 3)² - 5

f) 2(3² - 5²)

Answers in the comments.

1 comment:

Prof. Hubbard said...

a) 2(3² - 5)
Resolve what's in the parentheses before multiplying by 2.

2(9 - 5)
2(4)
Final answer: 8

b) 2(3 - 5)²
Resolve what's in the parentheses before squaring.

2(-2)²
2(4)
Final answer: 8


c) 2²(3 - 5)
Resolve what's in the parentheses before squaring.

2²(-2)
4(-2)
Final answer: -8

d) 2 × 3² - 5
Square first, multiply second, subtract last.

2 × 9 - 5
18 - 5
Final answer: 13

e) (2 × 3)² - 5
Parentheses first, square second, subtract last.

(6)² - 5
36 - 5
Final answer: 31

f) 2(3² - 5²)
Squares inside parentheses first, subtraction inside parentheses next, multiply by 2 last.

2(9 - 25)
2(-16)
Final answer: -32