How do you simplify #-6 -3 (12- 2^3) ÷ 4# using PEMDAS?

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Answer 1 · 2016-08-03T09:06:22

#-6-3 = -9#

This is a nice example of the fact that in a calculation, multiplication and division can be done in any order.

#-6 -3(12-color(red)(2^3))div4)#

#-6 -3(ul(12-color(red)8)))div4)#

#-6 -3xx(color(red)4)div4)#

At this stage we can do either:

#-6 -color(blue)((3xx4))div4) = -6 -color(blue)((12))div4 = -6-3#

OR

#-6 -3xx(color(magenta)(4div4)) = -6-3xxcolor(magenta)1 = -6-3#

The second term can also be written as:

#-6 -color(green)(3xx4)/4#

Finally: #-6-3 = -9#