How do you simplify #33 – 3[20 – (3 + 1)^2] # using order of operations?

2 Answers
Apr 16, 2018

#21#

Explanation:

#33-3[20-(3+1)^2]#

The order of operations is shown here, PEMAS:

www.coolmath.com

As you can see, parenthesis is the first thing we need to do, so let's simplify the quantity in the parenthesis:
#33-3[20-(4)^2]#

The next is exponents:
#33-3[20-16]#

Brackets, or #[]# are the same as parentheses #()# in this case.

So now we solve for the quantity inside the bracket:
#33-3[4]#

The next thing to do is multiplication:
#33-12#

And finally subtraction:
#21#

Hope this helps!

#=21#

Explanation:

PEMDAS
Perentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction

Step 1: #(3+1)^2#

#4^2=16#

Step 2: #20-16#

#20-16=4#

Step 3: Calculate what is outside parenthesis/bracket

#33-3(4)=21#