12-1x0+4/2=

Question

The answer I get is 10, i have asked others and they get 14, but I'm using PEMDAS, and it's kind of a debatable issue here LOL

Answer 1

Andrea, I understand why you're getting that answer and it's a simple mistake. Using PEMDAS is absolutely the right thing to do, but what you might not have realized is where you're getting confused. 

So, let's review. PEMDAS:

P(arenthesis), E(xponents), M(ultiplication), D(ivision), A(ddition), S(ubtraction)

Now, let's take the equation that you are working on and go down the list. 

12 - 1 x 0 + 4 / 2=

Are there any parenthesis? No.

Exponents? No.

Multiplication? Yes. So let's solve that first.       1 x 0 = 0               12 - 0 + 4 / 2 =

Division? Yes, let's do that next.                       4 / 2 = 2                    12 - 0 + 2 = 

Addition? Yes. Now this is the part where you probably got tripped up, because there's that tricky little subtraction sign. I know what you're wanting to do is add

0 + 2 to equal 2, then solve 12 - 2.

However, 0 + 2 would have to be in parenthesis in order to solve it that way. It would look like this:

                                   12 - (0+2) =                instead of            12 - 0 + 2 =

So, because there is no parenthesis, the minus sign is only for the 0, not for the 0 and everything else afterward.

So instead of subtracting 12 - (2) = 10            

you are solving each piece separately:   12 - 0 = 12              12 + 2 = 14

Voilà! The answer is, in fact 14.

It's easy with that part to get confused, because it seems like you're not following the order of operations (addition before subtraction). But in fact, you are still following the rules, because as we said before,

                                                                12 - 0 + 2 =

does not have a parenthesis sign. So really what it would look like through the PEMDAS goggles would be

12 - 0 + 2 =          12 -   +2 =   where the    +    would win because the    -    doesn't have a number attached to it anymore. 

Therefore, 12 - 1 x 0 + 4 / 2 =

                      12 - 0 + 4 / 2 =

                           12 - 0 + 2 =

                            12 -   + 2 =

                                12 + 2 =

                                       14

Tada! :)

Answer 2

PEMDAS works in a way but its more of what is found first left to right. So in this case it is Multiplication.

12-1x0 + 4/2      Multiplication: 1x0=0

12-0 + 4/2          Division: 4/2 = 2

12-0 + 2             Subtraction: 12-0 = 12

12+2 =               Addition: 12+2 = 14

Answer is 14

Answer 3

Andrea...you're right...using PEMDAS to solve this problems. I see the reason why you did obtained the answer you did and how it differs from the others. The explanation above describes it to you...might I surggest a technique which you can use to answer similar problems(hint: the more you do them, these kinds of problems will become less and less difficult...to the point that you could probably do them without having to write them steps down) Begin with your equation 12-1x0+4/2= 1st)P-Parenthesis: 12-1x0+4/2= [none in equation...next step] 2nd)E-Exponent: 12-1x0+4/2= [none in equation...next step) 3rd)M-Multiplication: 12-1x0+4/2= [we have -1 times 0 in equation...gonna equal zero] 4th)D-Division: Rewrite equation- 12-0+4/2= [4 over 2 gonna equal 2] Now this is where some would have problems because of the (+) and (-) signs remaining. But look at the equation there is 12 minus 0, which equals zero...there is no positive or negative zero. As a result, the add sign in from of 4/2 remains. So...5th)A-Addition: Rewrite equation 12 + 2= so this then equals 14. I hope this helps...not just answering the question...but explaining it to you so that the next problems you have...you'll be equipped to answer them. Good Luck....

Answer 4

Andrea, the order of operations is key. There are four operations involved: subtraction, multiplication, addition, and division.

Do you remember which should be done first? Multiplication and division are always performed before addition and subtraction.

12 - 1 x 0 + 4/2 =  Do the multiplication first: 1 x 0 = 0

12 - 0 + 4/2 =      Now do the division: 4/2 = 2

12 - 0 + 2 =         Now do the subtraction: 12 - 0 = 12

12 + 2 =              All that's remaining is the addition.

12 + 2 = 14

Hope this helps, Andrea.