How do you use order of operations? - Answers

Order of operations is very helpful in solving many problems. First, you check for parenthesis, then exponents, then multiplication/division, then subtraction/addition. For example with the problem 2+3(9-2)+(3^2), you would first look for parenthesis from left to right. The first parenthesis is (9-2) and therefore you solve the contents of those parenthesis, resulting in (7). So now your problem reads 2+3(7)+(3^2). Your second set of parenthesis (from left to right) is (3^2), which results in 9 when solved. Now, your equation is 2+3(7)+(9). There are no longer any parenthesis that are solvable (the contents of all the parenthesis are all simplified), therefore you check for multiplication/division. When a number is next to another number (or variable for that matter) without any operation signs like addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division, you will multiply those numbers. (aka 3(7)=3 times 7). So, your only (and inherently first) multiplication operation in the equation is 3(7), which results in 3 times 7, which is equal to 21. Now, your equation reads 2+21+9. You now look for subtraction/addition from left to right. The first addition problem in the equation is 2+21which results in 23, meaning your equation now looks like this: 23+9. Your next addition in the equation is 23+9, which simplifies to 32. Therefore, 2+3(9-2)+(3^2)=32.