Question

How do you evaluate the expression `8 • 7 – 4`?

Answer 1

We use order of operations to determine the answer of 52.

Explanation:

We use the order of operations sometimes referred to as BEDMAS or PEDMAS for Brackets, Exponents, Division, Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction. Starting with the expression we work through each item in order:

`8*7-4`

Brackets: none.
Division: none.
Multiplication: yes!

`color(red)(8*7)-4 = color(red)56-4`

Addition: none.
Subtraction: yes!

`color(blue)(56-4) = color(blue)52`

Aside:
The order of division versus multiplication is not important for normal numbers, so feel free to do these two steps together in any order you wish. Then when you move on to addition and subtraction the same thing applies. You can think of it as Brackets, Exponents, Division and Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction.