How do you simplify #2-1^3 - 3 -1 * 2 #?

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Answer 1 · 2015-06-17T21:54:44

#2*-1^3-3*-1*2#

#2*-1^3-3*-1*2#

First put parentheses around negative number constants to avoid confusion of their minus signs with subtraction signs.

Then use PEMDAS to provide operator precedence rules:

Parentheses
Exponents
Multiplication & Division
Addition & Subtraction

When precedence is otherwise equal, work left to right.

#2*(-1)^3-3*(-1)*2#

#2*color(red)((-1)^3)-3*(-1)*2#

#= color(red)(2*(-1))-3*(-1)*2#

#= (-2)-color(red)(3*(-1))*2#

#= (-2)-color(red)((-3)*2)#

#= color(red)((-2)-(-6))#

#= 4#

How do you simplify #2*-1^3 - 3* -1 * 2 #?