being asked by a parent and a student. I would like to know how to solve this type of problem; I already have the answer.

Problem: 2 [5 (4 + 6) - 2] = 96

Also, what do you call this type of problem? Thanks a lot.



Hi Danna,

This is a problem that involves order of operations. When you have an arithmetic problem that involves different operations; addition, subtraction, multiplication and addition, then it is important to apply the operations in the proper order. The order is

  1. Perform operations that are inside Brackets or parentheses.

  2. Perform any powers or Exponentiations next (like 2 3).

  3. Division.

  4. Multiplication.

  5. Addition.

  6. Subtraction.
Some people remember this as BEDMAS

For your problem I am going to write multiplication as *. Thus you have

2*[5*(4 + 6) - 2] You have 2 times something is brackets, so do the part in brackets first. Thus you have 5*(4 + 6) - 2 Again this is 5 time something in parentheses so do what is in parentheses first. Thus you get 5*(4 + 6) - 2 = 5*10 - 2 Since multiplication comes before subtraction, continue to get 5*(4 + 6) - 2 = 5*10 - 2 = 50 - 2 = 48

Hence altogether the steps are

2*[5*(4 + 6) - 2] = 2*[5*10 - 2] = 2*[50 - 2] = 2*48 = 96

Cheers,
Penny

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