Question

How do you solve `2(4*3)^2-:4+4-20`?

Answer 1

`=56`

Explanation:

`2(4times3)^2-:4+4-20`
`=2(12)^2/4+4-20`
`=2times144/4-16`
`=72-16`
`=56`

Answer 2

`56`

Explanation:

In any calculation which has different operations, count the number of terms first.

Within each term, do powers and roots first because they are the most powerful operations, then multiply and divide.
Brackets indicate when a weak operation must be done before a stronger one. Do brackets first if they are present.

Each term must simplify to a single answer and these will be added or subtracted in the last step.
The red shows the steps in the following:

`color(green)(2(color(red)(4xx3))^2div4)color(blue)(+4)color(magenta)(-20)" has 3 terms"`

=`color(green)(2(color(red)(12^2))div4)color(blue)(+4)color(magenta)(-20)`

=`color(green)(2(color(red)(144))div4)color(blue)(+4)color(magenta)(-20)`

=`color(red)(2xx144div4)color(blue)(+4)color(magenta)(-20)`

=`color(red)((2xx144)/4)color(blue)(+4)color(magenta)(-20)`

=`color(green)(72)color(blue)(+4)color(magenta)(-20)`

=`56`

Notice that the second and third terms were already single answers and were only used in the LAST line.