# How do you use PEMDAS to simplify 4(9-6)^2?

Jan 12, 2016

$4 {\left(9 - 6\right)}^{2} = 36$

#### Explanation:

Parentheses: Before anything, we evaluate expressions within parentheses.

$4 {\textcolor{red}{\left(9 - 6\right)}}^{2}$

Inside the parentheses there is only one operation, and so we can evaluate that part directly without worrying about PEMDAS.

$4 {\textcolor{red}{\left(3\right)}}^{2}$

Exponents: Next, apply any exponents. Be careful to only apply the exponent to its base.

$4 \cdot \textcolor{red}{{\left(3\right)}^{2}}$

In this case, the base is $3$

$4 \cdot \textcolor{red}{9}$

Multiplication: Next, perform any multiplication. This can include the division step, as dividing by $x$ is the same as multiplying by $\frac{1}{x}$.

$\textcolor{red}{4 \cdot 9}$

Multiplication is all that remains, so we evaluate it to get the final result

$\textcolor{red}{36}$

Addition and subtraction would follow, however they do not occur in the given expression. Note that as with multiplication and division, subtraction may be performed together with addition, as subtracting $x$ is the same as adding $- x$.