-4(3)+5[7-6(4)^2] Do in the parentheses first. Then do the exponent in the parentheses. Replace the (4)^2 by (16) Copy everything else over: -4(3)+5[7-6(16)] Do in the parentheses first again. Do the multiplication. Replace the 6(16) by 96 Copy everything else over: -4(3)+5[7-96] Do in the parentheses first again. Do the only thing left. Replace the 7-96 with -89 Copy everything else over: -4(3)+5[-89] Now do multiplications left to right. Replace the -4(3) by -12. Copy everything else over: -12+5[-89] Do the remaining multiplication. Replace the 5[-89] by (-445] -12+(-445) And finally -457 Edwin