Without finding the value of x, how do you determine the values for each of the following expressions?

Question

Show how you arrived at the answer.

(a) 4x + 12

Answer 1

4x + 12 is an expression. Let's write it as { 4x + 12 } so we may talk about it.

Using the PEMDAS rules for evaluating an expression.

P - there is none

E - there is none

MD - there is an M [note: it is implied. 4x means 4*x], so perform it

AS - there is an A [note the value you found for 4x is added to 12]; this gives a result

The result is a single number, so there are no more PEMDAS operations to consider.

Once these steps are completed, you will have an answer.

Summary: If you are given a value for the unknown variable x, then this process will produce a single number for the expression { 4x + 12 }.