How do you simplify (13 xx 2 - 5^2)/[3^2 - (-3)^2] using PEMDAS?

1 Answer
Sep 3, 2016

1/0

Undefined because division by zero is not permissible.

Explanation:

Identify the separate terms first.

Although the whole fraction is one terms, there are 2 terms in the numerator and 2 terms in the denominator.

Each term must be simplified to a single answer and these will be dded or subtracted last.

Do operations in brackets first.
Then do the strongest operations: powers and roots.
Then the weaker operations: multiply and divide,
Last the weakest operations: addition and subtraction.

(color(red)(13 xx 2) - color(lime)(5^2))/[color(blue)(3^2) - color(magenta)((-3)^2)]

=(color(red)(26) - color(lime)(25))/[color(blue)(9) - color(magenta)((9)]

=1/(0)

=undefined because division by zero is not permissible.