# How do you simplify -6 -3 (12- 2^3) ÷ 4  using PEMDAS?

Jul 24, 2016

$- 6 - 3 \left(12 - {2}^{3}\right) \div 4 = - 9$

#### Explanation:

PEMDAS stands for Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, and Addition and Subtraction. Hence we solve in this order - first parentheses, then exponents, then multiplication and division and finally addition and subtraction.

Hence $- 6 - 3 \left(12 - {2}^{3}\right) \div 4$

= $- 6 - 3 \left(12 - 8\right) \div 4$ (as exponent is with in parentheses)

= $- 6 - 3 \times 4 \div 4$

= $- 6 - 12 \div 4$

= $- 6 - 3$

= $- 9$

Jul 28, 2016

$- 9$

#### Explanation:

In doing any calculation with different operations, first identify how many terms there are.

Each term must simplify to a single answer. In the last step the terms are added or subtracted. Adding and subtracting are the weakest operations which is why they are done LAST.

Powers and roots are the strongest and must be done first.

Parentheses are used when a weaker operation is to be done before a stronger one.

$\textcolor{b l u e}{- 6} \textcolor{g r e e n}{- 3 \left(12 - {2}^{3}\right) \div 4} \text{ has only 2 terms}$

In the following steps, the numbers in red show which operations have been .

$\textcolor{b l u e}{- 6} \textcolor{g r e e n}{- 3 \left(12 - \textcolor{red}{8}\right) \div 4}$

=$\textcolor{b l u e}{- 6} \textcolor{g r e e n}{- 3 \left(\textcolor{red}{4}\right) \div 4}$

=color(blue)(-6)color(green)(-color(red)(3)

=$- 9$