Question

Simplify each expression 17(2)-4^2

Answer 1

17(2)-4^2= 34-16= 18

Answer 2

With these types of expressionsI learned you are suppose to follow PEMDAS. P=parentheses E= exponents M=multiplication D=division A=addition and S=subtraction. This means you are suppose to solve in the order of PEMDAS. The first thing to solve in that equation is -4^2 because it is an exponent and that is the closest term to the first. This is the equation after solving the exponent 17(2)-16. Since 17(2) is the last thing to do in the equation we do it! 17(2)=34. 34-16=18. 18 is the answer.

Also I would like to note that if there was an equation in the parentheses like (2-1) you would solve that first because it is the 1st term of PEMDAS but since there was nothing to solve you do the second closest thing to the first which in this case was E=exponent or -4^2.
Hope this helped!