how do you solve 2*3(4+5-3/4(5+7-3))+5 You evaluate expressions, you don't "solve" them. (You solve equations.) This is not an equation because there is no equal sign. So you should have asked "How do you EVALUATE 2*3(4+5-3/4(5+7-3))+5 The priorities are 1. Work within first innermost parentheses, if any, using the following priorities, or of if none, use the following priorities on the expression: 2. Do the first exponent, going left to right. 3. Do the first multiplication or division, going left to right. 4. Do the first addition or subtraction, going left to right. Place understood multiplication symbols between the 3 and the (, and between the 4 and the (. 2*3*(4+5-3/4*(5+7-3))+5 Look for the innermost parentheses, which is (5+7-3) There are no exponents or multiplication in the innermost parentheses, so we go to the first addition or subtraction, going left to right. This is 5+7 So we replace the 5+7 by 12, and now we have: 2*3*(4+5-3/4*(12-3))+5 Now we start over. The innermost parentheses is (12-3). There are no exponents, multiplication, or division within this parentheses, so we go to the first addition or subtraction within it. This is 12-3 So we replace the 12-3 by 9, and now we have 2*3*(4+5-3/4*(9))+5 Now we can eliminate the innermost parentheses, since there is only one number within it. So now we have 2*3*(4+5-3/4*9)+5 Now we start over. The innermost parentheses is (4+5-3/4*9) There are no exponents within that parentheses, So we look for the first multiplication or division going left to right. The first one we come to is the division 3/4 So we replace the 3/4 by 0.75, and now we have: 2*3*(4+5-0.75*9)+5 Now we start over. The innermost parentheses is (4+5-0.75*9) There are no exponents within that parentheses, So we look for the first multiplication or division going left to right. The first one we come to is the multiplication 0.75*9 So we replace the 0.75*9 by 6.75. Now we have 2*3*(4+5-6.75)+5 Now we start over. The innermost parentheses is (4+5-6.75) There are no exponents within that parentheses, nor any multiplications or divisions. So we look for the first addition or subtraction going left to right. The first one we come to is the addition 4+5 So we replace the 4+5 by 9. Now we have 2*3*(9-6.75)+5 Now we start over. The innermost parentheses is (9-6.75) There are no exponents within that parentheses, nor any multiplications or divisions. So we look for the first addition or subtraction going left to right. The first one (only one) we come to is the subtraction 9-6.75. So we replace the 9-6.75 by 2.25. Now we have 2*3*(2.25)+5 Now we start over. Since there is only one number inside the parentheses we can dispense with the parentheses, and now we have 2*3*2.25+5 Now we start over. There are no parentheses nor exponents, so we look for the first multiplication or division going left to right. This is 2*3, so we replace the 2*3 by 6, and have 6*2.25+5 Now we start over. There are no parentheses nor exponents, so we look for the first multiplication or division going left to right. This is 6*2.25, so we replace the 6*2.25 by 13.5, and have 13.5+5 The only thing left is that one addition, so the final result is 18.5 Edwin