SOLUTION: I am stuck on a question about exponential expressions and the order of operations. I understand the concept but keep getting an incorrect answer for the order I am doing the probl

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Question 686861: I am stuck on a question about exponential expressions and the order of operations. I understand the concept but keep getting an incorrect answer for the order I am doing the problem. Can you help me figure out why I keep getting the answer of "2" and what I am doing wrong?
3(-1)^2-5(-1)+4
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You mistakenly did this

3(-1)^2-5(-1)+4

3(1)-5(1)+4

3 - 5 + 4

-2 + 4

2

This is NOT the correct answer

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Here's what you *should* do

3(-1)^2-5(-1)+4

3(1)-5(-1)+4

3 + 5 + 4

8 + 4

12

So 3(-1)^2-5(-1)+4 = 12, which means that 12 is the correct answer.