Question

an expression is shown 40 - 20 / 4 / 4 x 2.

Answer 1

We can use PEMDAS to help us:

P - Parenthesis

E - Exponents

M - Multiplication

D - Division

A - Addition

S - Subtraction

PEMDAS states what occurs first in order of which letter pertains to which mathematical operation and how you are suppose to do it from left to right. Since multiplication and division comes before addition and subtraction, we know C isn't the answer since it is subtraction. This leaves us with A, B, and D. They all happen to be either multiplication and division. Although multiplication SEEMS to come before division, multiplication and division are actually paired together (just like addition and subtraction) meaning that if either a multiplication or division comes before a division and multiplication operation, you do it left to right. For example, 2 x 2/2. You do 2 x 2 first equaling 4 and then divide by 2 to get 2. Another example is 10/2 x 5. You DO NOT do multiplication first since multiplication and division are paired together meaning you do 10/2 equaling 5 and then do 5 x 5 equaling 25. Enough explanation for that part. Since 20/4 is the first multiplication/division operation, that is what you do first. The answer is A.