How do you evaluate the expression #5[8+(3-1)]-2#?

1 Answer
Meave60
Sep 29, 2014

The order of operations is indicated by the mnemonic device PEMDAS: parentheses (brackets), exponents, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction.

#"5[8 + (3 - 1)] - 2"# =
Do the subtraction in parentheses first.

#"5[8 + 2] - 2"# =
Do the addition in brackets next.

#"5[10] - 2"# =
Multiply 5 x 10 next.

#"50 - 2"# =
Do the subtraction.

#"48"#

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