Order of Operations with Parentheses, Addition, and Subtraction

In mathematics, the order of operations is a set of rules that tells us the order in which we should solve expressions. When dealing with expressions that include parentheses, addition, and subtraction, we follow these steps:

1. Parentheses: Solve expressions inside parentheses first.
2. Addition and Subtraction: Proceed from left to right.

Example

Consider the expression:

$$(3 + 5) - 2$$

Step 1: Solve inside the parentheses:

$$3 + 5 = 8$$

Step 2: Substitute back into the expression:

$$8 - 2$$

Step 3: Perform the subtraction:

$$8 - 2 = 6$$

Thus, the final answer is $6$.

Key Questions

• What do you solve first when parentheses are present?
• How do you handle addition and subtraction in the absence of parentheses?
• Can you give another example using parentheses?

Summary

• Always resolve parentheses first.
• Then, perform addition and subtraction from left to right.