Question 956852
your equation is:


-12 + 2 * -1^2 + -3^2 -9 / 2=-7


you would need to insert parentheses as shown below:


(-12 + 2 * -1^2 + (-3)^2 - 9) / 2 = -7


the parentheses around the (-3) indicates that you are squaring (-3) rather than 3.


the parentheses around (-12 + 2 * -1^2 + (-3)^2 - 9) means that whole expression has to be evaluated before you divide by 2.


there is no parentheses around -1^2.


this means that (1) will be squared first and then the minus sign applied.
-1^2 = -1


the equation, with the parentheses as shown, would be processed as follows:


start with:


(-12 + 2 * -1^2 + (-3)^2 - 9) / 2 = -7


you process exponents first, working from left to right.


-1^2 becomes -1
(-3)^2 becomes 9


your equation becomes:


(-12 + 2 * -1 + 9 - 9) / 2 = -7


you are processing multiplication and division within the set of parentheses next, working from left to right.


2 * -1 = -2


since you are still working within the set of parentheses, the division by 2 is not performed until after all the operations within the set of parentheses have been completed.


your equation becomes:


(-12 - 2 + 9 - 9) / 2 = -7


you are processing addition and subtraction within the set of parentheses next.


-12 - 2 = -14
-14 + 9 = -5
-5 - 9 = -14


your expression becomes:


(-14)/2 = -7


you have finished evaluating the expression within the set of parentheses so you work on the rest of the expression next.


(-14)/2 is equal to -7


your equation becomes:


-7 = -7


you are done.