SEARCH HOME
Math CentralQuandaries & Queries

search

Question from ROB, a parent:

WHAT IS 8+4(22-7)=

Hi Rob,

The parentheses act like commas in an English sentence. They group together operations that should be performed first. Thus, since 22 - 7 = 15 this expression becomes 8 + 4(15).

The operation between the 4 and the 15 is multiplication. This is a convention in mathematical expressions. Thus in your expression you have a multiplication and an addition. Again the convention is to perform multiplications before additions so you have

8 + 4 (15) = 8 + 60 = 68.

I hope this helps,
Penny

About Math Central
 

 


Math Central is supported by the University of Regina and The Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences.
Quandaries & Queries page Home page University of Regina PIMS