Question

How do you simplify `(2 + 3) + 42 xx (5 − 3)`?

Answer 1

`89`

Explanation:

Rather than blindly following PEDMAS, BODMSA, etc in whatever you know it, count the number of term first. Each term will simplify to a single answer and these are added or subtracted in the last step.

In each term the order is:

• brackets first,
• powers and roots
• multiply and divide

`color(blue)((2 + 3)) color(magenta)(+ 42 xx (5 − 3))" "larr` has 2 terms

`=color(blue)(5) color(magenta)(+ 42 xx 2)`

`= color(blue)(5)color(magenta)(+ 84)`

`=89`