We evaluated an expression (6.5y + 2) / (x + 2) where x= 4 and y = 3 and came up with the answer 3.583 but textbook has different answer.

Question

 

 

We want to verify if the answer is 3.583 because the textbook states the answer to the problem is 4.3 and I want to know if  we are doing something wrong, or if the textbook printed the answer incorrectly.  Thank you!

Answer 1

If you got a different answer from your book, then there are 2 possible reasons.

 

1) the book is wrong

2) you did not follow the order of operations

 

Lets test reason 2 to see if reason 1 is accurate.

 

In order of operations, we use the PEMDAS procedure.

 

Parenthesis

Exponent

Multiply of Divide from left to right

Add or Subtract from left to right

 

Lets plug in the x and y values into the expression.

 

(6.5(3) + 2) / (4 + 2) =

 

(19.5 + 2) / (4 + 2) =

 

(21.5) / (6) =

 

3.583

 

Your answer is correct.  The book was wrong.