document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=855469>Question 855469</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> What is the correct order of operations to solve for (-5) -6 (-3)?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "My textbook is showing that the answer is 13 and I can't figure out  how they got that.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Thanks for your help!\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "-Taylor </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #515378 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=KMST><B>KMST(5328)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=KMST><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/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=KMST><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=515378\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The -5 at the beginning is in brackets, but those brackets do not change the meaning of the expression; it is just a waste of ink.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The -3 at the end is in brackets meaning that it is multiplied times the number before.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The -6 in the middle is not in brackets, so the minus sign in front of the 3 would mean that the product of 6 and (-3) is subtracted from the (-5).<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(-5) -6 (-3) = (-5) - (-18) = (-5) + 18) = 18 - 5 = 13<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "If negative numbers seem new and confusing to you, they were not explained properly.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Negative numbers are very well known to people who live in cold places. (I used to live in a town where the temperature was <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-25%5Eo ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-25%5Eo\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=F ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"F\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > when I headed to work some mornings).<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Locations and trips are often given as North or South and that works just as positive and negative numbers.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=number_line%281000%2C-20%2C15%2C-18%2C-5%2C13%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"number_line%281000%2C-20%2C15%2C-18%2C-5%2C13%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "If you go (or are located) 5 miles South from City Hall (-5),<BR>\n" );
document.write( "and then move 18 miles North (add 18), you added (-5) + 18 = 13<BR>\n" );
document.write( "and now are 13 miles North from City Hall.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "If you need to go to a location 5 miles South from City Hall (-5),<BR>\n" );
document.write( "and start from a location 18 miles South of City Hall (-18),<BR>\n" );
document.write( "the distance (and direction) you have to go is given by the difference<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(location you need to get to, minus location you are now):<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(-5) - (-18) = 13 .<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The difference is positive, meaning that you have to go 13 miles towards North.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "You can think through your trips by yourself; you would not need to ask a math teacher to know that.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The only thing you need from a math teacher is the accepted meaning of words like \"addition\" , \"subtraction\" and \"negative numbers\". </SPAN>\n" );
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