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
- Perform operations that are inside Brackets or parentheses.
- Perform any powers or Exponentiations next (like 2 3).
- Division.
- Multiplication.
- Addition.
- 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