document.write( "Question 439478: I am having issues understanding how and when to \"reorder the operations\". It appears when the reorder of operations is done that all expressions with a letter get moved to the right and all subtraction problems get changed to additions problems. What are the rules of this? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #303726 by MathLover1(20850)\"\" \"About 
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first something about the \"ORDER\" OF OPERATIONS RULES\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "When performing more than one operation on an algebraic expression, work out the operations and signs in the following order:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \"First\" calculate powers and roots.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \"Then\" perform all multiplication and division.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " Finally, \"finish\" with addition and subtraction.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"Order\" of operations are a \"set\" of \"rules\" that mathematicians have \"agreed\" to \"follow\" to avoid mass \"CONFUSION\" when \"simplifying\" mathematical expressions or equations.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "easier way to remember the ORDER OF OPERATIONS RULES\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "For those of you that remember best with acronyms:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"Please\"\"+Excuse+\"\"My\"\"+Dear\"\"+Aunt\"\"+Sally\" (\"PEMDAS\")\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " Please ...=>...Parentheses\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " Escuse...=>...Exponents\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " My ...=>...Multiplication\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " Dear ...=>...Division\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " Aunt ...=>...Addition\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " Sally ...=>...Subtraction\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "now, about the \"RE-ORDER\" OF OPERATIONS RULES \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "the \"Associative\" Property, the \"commutative\" property, and the \"distributive\" property-three basic properties of numbers- allow you to \"move\"\"+stuff\"\"+around\", \"regroup\", all \"without\" affecting the result\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "the Associative Property-Use the associative property to change the grouping in an algebraic expression to make the work tidier or more convenient.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The commutative property makes working with algebraic expressions easier. The commutative property changes the order of some numbers in an operation to make the work tidier or more convenient — all without affecting the result.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Addition: \"a+%2B+b+=+b+%2B+a\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Example: \"4+%2B+5+=+9\" and \"5+%2B+4+=+9\", so \"4+%2B+5+=+5+%2B+4\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"Reordering\" the numbers \"doesn%27t\" affect the result.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Multiplication:\"a+%2A+b+=+b+%2A+a\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Subtraction: \"a+%96+b+\" is not equal to \"+b+%96+a+\"(except in a few special cases)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Example: (–5) – (+2) = (–7) and (+2) – (–5) = +7, so (–5) – (+2) is not equal to (+2) – (–5)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Here, you see how \"subtraction\" \"doesn%27t\" follow the commutative property.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Exception: If \"a\" and \"b\" are the same number, then the subtraction appears to be commutative because switching the order doesn’t change the answer.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Example: 2 –2 = 0 and –2 + 2 = 0, so 2 –2 = –2 + 2\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Division: \"a+%3Ab+not=+b+%F7+a\" (except in a few special cases)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Example: \"%28-6%29+%3A+%28%2B1%29+=+-6\" and \"%28%2B1%29+%3A+%28-6%29+=+-1%2F6\", so \"%28-6%29+%F7+%28%2B1%29\" is not equal to \"%28%2B1%29+%2F+-6%29\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Division also \"doesn%27t\" follow the commutative property.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Exception: If a and b are opposites, then you get –1 no matter which order you divide them in.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Example: 2 : –2 = –1 and –2:2 = –1, so 2:–2 = –2 :2\r
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