How to solve
When an expression has more than one operation, left-to-right alone can give the wrong value. Multiplication and division are done before addition and subtraction; within each pair, go left to right. Parentheses override that default ranking when present.
Steps
- Evaluate any parentheses first (these drills may have none).
- Then perform multiplication and division from left to right.
- Then perform addition and subtraction from left to right.
Example
Evaluate 3 + 4 × 5 − 2.
- Multiplication first: 4 × 5 = 20, so the expression is 3 + 20 − 2.
- Addition and subtraction left to right: 3 + 20 = 23, then 23 − 2 = 21.
Answer: 21
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