Quandaries
and Queries
Who is asking: Student
Level: Middle
Question:
Hello,
I am in grade 7. My teacher tells me brackets always first, well i know that but, 5 (-4) x 2
Does the (-4) count as a bracket or is it just telling you not to minus 4 from 5 but to multiply 5 x -4 ? Am i correct?
Thanks. Brad
Hi Brad,
This is a strange way to form the expression. I agree that the exprerssion is
5 x (-4) x 2 = -40
What is strange to me is that in one place x is used to indicate multiplication and another place multiplication is indicated by 5 (-4).
Penny