How do you simplify #4+3(12-9)# using order of operations?

1 Answer
Nov 18, 2015

Use PEMDAS (parentheses, exponents, multiplying & dividing, adding & subtracting)

Explanation:

Let's start with the parentheses.
#(12-9) = 3#
This gives us:
#4 + 3(3)#

We dont have any exponents, so we skip this fase.

Next step is multiplying and dividing.
#4 + 3 * 3 = 4 + 9#

Then, add and subtract from left to right.
#4 + 9 = 13#

So the answer is 13.