document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=6939>Question 6939</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Please help me help my daughter with this equation:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "12-(20-2(6^2/3*2^2) I have seen the solution but don't understand how you get there.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "How does one know to multiply the inner parenthesis by -2 rather than by 18, 20-2?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "In the solution, both the 6^2 and 2^2 are divided by 3, then multiplied, rather than 6^2 divided by 3 and then multiplied by 2^2. Why is this?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "In the solution the minus sign behind the 20 becomes a plus sign, why?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Thank you.   </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #3802 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=glabow><B>glabow(165)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-09.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=glabow><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=3802\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The rules for evaluating expressions is:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Do all operations in a group, identified by parentheses. Once all groups are evaluated, evaluate the expression.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "For all evaluations, do powers and roots first. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "Second, do all multiplication and division.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Third, do all addition and subtraction.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Let's evaluate your expression.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=12-%2820-2%28%286%5E2%29%2F3%292%5E2%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"12-%2820-2%28%286%5E2%29%2F3%292%5E2%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "There is a group <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%286%5E2%2F3%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%286%5E2%2F3%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > that must be done first. 36/3 = 12.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "This gives <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=12-%2820-2%2812%292%5E2%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"12-%2820-2%2812%292%5E2%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "There is a power that must be done next. <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2%5E2+=+4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2%5E2+=+4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "This gives <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=12-%2820-2%2812%294%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"12-%2820-2%2812%294%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Now do all multiplication, 2(12)(4)=96.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "This gives <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=12-%2820-96%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"12-%2820-96%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "There is a group (20-96) that must be done. This gives<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=12+-+%28-76%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"12+-+%28-76%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Subtracting a negative number is the same as adding a positive one. This gives<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=12+%2B+76+=+88 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"12+%2B+76+=+88\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. DONE!\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Subtraction is really adding the negative of a number. That is, <BR>\n" );
document.write( "a - b is really a + (-b). What we had above was<BR>\n" );
document.write( "12 - (-76) is really 12 + (-(-76)). The negative of a negative number is the positive of the number. So it's really 12 + 76.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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