# How do you evaluate - 3- 4( - 4- ( 3- - 5))?

Sep 25, 2017

#### Explanation:

$\left(3 - - 5\right) = 3 + 5 = 8$

A negative times a negative equals a positive. Think about it this way. Taking away something is a negative, negatives can be considered as something bad. Taking away something bad is good.

Substitute the i+8 into the expression in place of ( $3 - - 5$)

$- 3 - 4 \left(- 4 + 8\right)$

 (-4 + 8) = +4)  The negative goes down the positive goes up, the integers go in opposite directions so subtract them and the positive is larger so the sum of -4 + 8 is + 4

Substitute +4 for $\left(- 4 + 8\right)$

$- 3 - 4 \left(+ 4\right)$ = - 3 - 16# a negative times a positive is a negative.

$- 3 - 16 = - 19$ negative three goes down - 16 goes down so you go down down down ( into a burning ring of fire) and the answer is a "bigger" negative number

Sep 25, 2017

$45$

#### Explanation:

We must use our order of operations very carefully. If we follow the form PEMDAS, then we will look at the inner parenthesis and simplify that first

$- 3 - 4 \left(- 4 - \left(\textcolor{red}{3 - - 5}\right)\right)$

$- 3 - 4 \left(- 4 - \left(\textcolor{red}{3 + 5}\right)\right)$

$- 3 - 4 \left(- 4 - \textcolor{red}{8}\right)$

Next we look at the other parenthesis

$- 3 - 4 \left(\textcolor{red}{- 4 - 8}\right)$

$- 3 - 4 \left(\textcolor{red}{- 12}\right)$

Now we can multiply $- 4$ and $- 12$ which yields $48$

$- 3 + 48$

$- 3 + 48 = 45$