order of operation

Question

5^2-(5-7)(2)

 Could  please workout  each step for me so can see what i done wrong because when I work the problem out  I came with the answer 33

Answer 1

Hi Mary

 

The "secret" to this problem is PEMDAS.  The is the order in which you should work arithmetic operations.

PEMDAS stands for parentheses, exponents, multiplication/division, addition/subtraction

 

5²-(5-7)(2)

 

In this case we have a term in parenthesis, so let's evaluated the parentheses first.  This will give us

5² - ^-2•2

 

Exponent is next

25 - ^-2•2

 

Multiply

25- ^-4

 

Subtract

25 - ^-4 = 25+4 = 29