# What is 3 -3 x 6 + 2?

Jul 9, 2016

-13

#### Explanation:

Using the mnemonic Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally we are reminded that in the order of operations we follow

P = Parenthesis $\leftarrow$ brackets
E = Exponents
M =Multiplications
D = Division
S = Subtraction

To solve 3 - 3 x 6 + 2

We would do the multiplication first

3 - 18 + 2

Then we do the addition and subtraction working left to right

-15 + 2

When adding signs that are different keep the sign of the larger number and subtract.

-13

Jul 14, 2016

$- 13$

#### Explanation:

If we use the concept of terms, then the order of operations is easy to identify.

$\textcolor{b l u e}{3} - \textcolor{m a \ge n t a}{3 \times 6} + \textcolor{\mathmr{and} a n \ge}{2} \text{ }$ has 3 terms.

We need to reduce each term to a single number before they can be added or subtracted in the final step.

$\textcolor{b l u e}{3} - \textcolor{m a \ge n t a}{3 \times 6} + \textcolor{\mathmr{and} a n \ge}{2}$

$\textcolor{b l u e}{3} - \textcolor{m a \ge n t a}{18} + \textcolor{\mathmr{and} a n \ge}{2}$

$- 15 + \textcolor{\mathmr{and} a n \ge}{2} \text{ or } 3 + 2 - \textcolor{m a \ge n t a}{18}$

=$- 13$

Adding is commutative, so the numbers can be added in any order, as long as the sign is kept with the correct term.