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Question from DIANNE, a student:

5(16-9) divided by 7x2+14 top part of equation
_____________________________________
12-3x2 bottom part

Hi Dianne,

Let me try a similar problem,

((8x5-4)/(3X5))/(3x5)

I am going to evaluate the three parts separately

8 × 5 - 4: We always multiply before adding so this is 40 - 4 = 36.
3 × 5: This is 15.
7 × 2 - 8: Again, multiply first and get 14 - 8 = 6.

Thus

(36/15)/6

What I see now is that 3 divides 36 (36 = 3 × 12) and 3 divides 15 (15 = 3 × 5) and thus

(12/5)/6

But this is one-sixth of 12 divided by 5 and hence

(1/6)x(12/5)

Finally both 6 and 12 are divisible by 6 and thus

2/5

Now try your problem and write back if you need more help.

Penny

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