1. 32 - 2 (20+12 divided by 4 X 3-2 X 2) + 10

Question

the answer is supposed to be only 1 digit

Answer 1

Carefully apply PEMDAS, the order of operations. Parentheses 1st, exponents if any 2nd, multiplication 3rd, division next, addition next to last, subtraction last

12/4 = 3

3x3 = 9

20+9 = 29

2x2 =4

29-4 = 25

2x25 = 50

that leaves 32-50+10

you might be tempted to sum that to -8 and that's probably the answer someone is expecting

-50+10 =-40. 32-40 = -8, that's one digit

but addition goes before subtraction: 50+10 = 60, 32-60 = -28

that 32-50+10 is really 32-(50+10) = 32-60

to get -8 you'd need explicit parentheses and another + sign: 32+(-50+10)

PEMDAS which since there are no exponents becomes PMDAS, simplify what's in parentheses first

division then multiplication, then addition, and last subratction