Question

How do you know which part of the numerical expression to evaluate first?

Answer 1

Ever heard of BIDMAS? Brackets Indices Divide Multiply Add Subtract

This shows the order to evaluate the equation.

First you add up the things inside brackets, because B is at the beginning of BIDMAS.

Let’s say you have
(5+3) - (4-2)

You first simplify the brackets.
(5+3) = ?. = 8. Now we have
8 - (4-2)
We still need to simplify the other bracket
(4-2) = ?. = 2.

Now we have 8 - 2.

The answer is 6.

You can do the same for that long equation, just remember the order of operation - BIDMAS.

Let’s pretend the / sign means divide.
Let’s say you have 8 x 4 / 3

The order of operations is BIDMAS - Divide comes before Multiply. Sooooo… we first divide the 4 by 3. (Okay, this was a bad example cause it gives a horrible decimal) it gives us 1.3.

Now we have

8 x 1.3.

Times those together and that’s you answer.

One more example.

8 / 4 x 3

Divide comes first, right? So we divide 8 by 4. And we get 2.

Now we have 2 x 3. Times those together and you have 6!

Now my explaining wasn’t that great, it’s my first time but I really tried hard to help so let me know if you need more explaining, and to what detail.

Always happy to help! :D

Answer 2

Step-by-step explanation:

Ever heard of BIDMAS? Brackets Indices Divide Multiply Add Subtract

This shows the order to evaluate the equation.

First you add up the things inside brackets, because B is at the beginning of BIDMAS.

Let’s say you have

(5+3) - (4-2)

You first simplify the brackets.

(5+3) = ?. = 8. Now we have

8 - (4-2)

We still need to simplify the other bracket

(4-2) = ?. = 2.

Now we have 8 - 2.

The answer is 6.

You can do the same for that long equation, just remember the order of operation - BIDMAS.

Let’s pretend the / sign means divide.

Let’s say you have 8 x 4 / 3

The order of operations is BIDMAS - Divide comes before Multiply. Sooooo… we first divide the 4 by 3. (Okay, this was a bad example cause it gives a horrible decimal) it gives us 1.3.

Now we have

8 x 1.3.

Times those together and that’s you answer.

One more example.

8 / 4 x 3

Divide comes first, So we divide 8 by 4. And we get 2.

Now we have 2 x 3. Times those together and you have 6!

Now my explaining wasn’t that great, it’s my first time but I really tried hard to help so let me know if you need more explaining, and to what detail.