Simplify? #4-5-(-7)+2-3#

1 Answer
EZ as pi · Kushagra
Aug 30, 2017

#5#

Explanation:

To simplify this expression, we only need to add and subtract.

Many students blindly follow BODMAS, PEMDAS, or other similar acronyms for the correct order of operations, but this can lead to incorrect answers if the process is not understood clearly,

  • identify the number of terms first
  • simplify each term to a single answer
  • add and subtract in the last step

#" "color(red)(4)color(forestgreen)(-5)color(magenta)(-(-7))color(blue) (+2)-3" "larr# there are #5# terms
#color(white)(zzzz.zzzz)darr#
#=color(red)(4)color(forestgreen)(-5)" " color(magenta)(+7)" "color(blue)(+2)-3" "larr# multiply out the brackets
As,
#(-) xx (-) =(+)#
At this point re-arrange the terms with the ADDS at the front.
(This leads to fewer errors)

#color(red)(4)" "color(magenta)(+7)" "color(blue)(+2)" "color(forestgreen)(-5)" "-3" "larr# add terms with the same signs

#=+13" "-8" "larr# now simplify for the final answer

#=5#

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