How do you evaluate #[( - 7\times 8) - ( - 15\times 4) ] - 3] #?

1 Answer
Oct 20, 2017

#4#

Explanation:

Let's take a look at this

#[(-7 xx 8) - (-15 xx 4)]#

We'll go through the "order of operations" (PEMDAS), starting with parentheses.

#[ color(white)(j) color(green)((-7 xx 8)) - color(red)((-15 xx 4)) color(white)(j) ]#

#color(green)(-7 xx 8)# simplifies to #color(green)(-56)#

#color(red)(-15 xx 4)# simplifies to #color(red)(-60)#

So, we have #[ color(white)(j) color(green)((-56)) - color(red)((-60)) color(white)(j) ]#

#-56- (-60)# is the same as #-56+60#, which is #4#

So, now we are left with
#[ color(white)(j) 4 color(white)(j) ]# or just #4#