To solve an expression that contains parentheses, (\, ) , we follow the order of operations with parentheses. This means that we calculate the operation inside parentheses first, from left to right, before following the standard order of operations.

For example, let's use the order of operations with parentheses to evaluate 30 \div (5 \times 2).

First, we perform the operation inside the parentheses:

\begin{align} 30 \div({\color{blue}5 \times 2}) &=\\[5pt] 30 \div{\color{blue}10}& \end{align}

Then, we divide:

\begin{align} 30 \div 10 &=\\[5pt] 3 \end{align}

FLAG

Calculate 12 + 30 \div (6 + 9) .

EXPLANATION

To evaluate the given expression, we follow the order of operations with parentheses.

First, we perform the operation inside the parentheses:

\begin{align} 12 + 30 \div({\color{blue}6 + 9}) &=\\[5pt] 12 + 30 \div{\color{blue}15}&. \end{align}

Then, we multiply and divide, from left to right:

\begin{align} 12 + {\color{red}30 \div 15}&=\\[5pt] 12 + {\color{red}2}&. \end{align}

Finally, we add and subtract, from left to right:

12 + 2 =14.

FLAG

$6\times (7-4) =$

a
$18$
b
$9$
c
$28$
d
$38$
e
$24$

$(3+2)\times (3-1) =$

a
$14$
b
$12$
c
$10$
d
$7$
e
$8$

$(8 - 12\div 3)\times 6=$

a
b
c
d
e

Another pair of grouping symbols that are similar to parentheses are square brackets, [\: ].

To solve an expression that contains both parentheses and brackets, the order of operations with parentheses tells us to:

  • Calculate the operations in the parentheses first.

  • Calculate the operations in square brackets second.

  • Finally, follow the order of operations, as usual.

To illustrate, let's evaluate the following expression:

1+ [2 \times (3 + 4)]

First, we perform the operation inside the parentheses: \begin{align} 1 + [2 \times ({\color{blue}3 + 4})] &=\\[5pt] 1 + [2 \times {\color{blue}7}] & \end{align}

Next, we perform the operation inside the square brackets: \begin{align} 1 + [{\color{red}2 \times 7}] &=\\[5pt] 1 + {\color{red}14}& \end{align}

Finally, we add: \begin{align} 1 + 14 &= \\[5pt] 15 \end{align}

FLAG

Evaluate [10 - (1 + 3)] \div 2.

EXPLANATION

To evaluate the given expression, we follow the order of operations with parentheses.

First, we perform the operation inside the inner parentheses:

\begin{align} [10 - ({\color{blue}1 + 3})] \div 2 &=\\[5pt] [10 - {\color{blue}4}]\div 2& \end{align}

Next, we perform the operation inside the square brackets:

\begin{align} [{\color{red}10 - 4}] \div 2 &=\\[5pt] {\color{red}6} \div 2& \end{align}

Finally, we divide:

\begin{align} 6 \div 2 &= \\[5pt] 3 \end{align}

FLAG

$[(3+4) \times 3] - 5=$

a
$21$
b
$16$
c
$13$
d
$11$
e
$18$

$[30 \div (8 - 2)] \times 4 = $

a
b
c
d
e

$30- [ (8+3)\times 2] =$

a
b
c
d
e

Yet another pair of grouping symbols that are similar to parentheses and square brackets are braces, \{ \,\}.

For example, one expression that uses all three grouping symbols is: \{ 6 \div [(3 + 5) \div 4] \} + 5

For expressions containing parentheses, square brackets, and braces, the order of operations with parentheses tells us to:

  • Calculate the operations in the parentheses first.

  • Calculate the operations in the square brackets second.

  • Calculate the operations in braces third.

  • Finally, follow the order of operations, as usual.

So, to evaluate the expression above, first, we perform the operation inside the parentheses:

\begin{align} \{ 6 \div [({\color{blue}{3 + 5}}) \div 4] \} + 5 &=\\[5pt] \{ 6 \div [{\color{blue}{8}} \div 4] \} + 5 \end{align}

Next, we perform the operation inside the square brackets:

\begin{align} \{ 6 \div [{\color{red}{8 \div 4}}] \} + 5&=\\[5pt] \{ 6 \div {\color{red}{2}} \} + 5& \end{align}

Then, we perform the operation inside the braces:

\begin{align} \{{\color{magenta}6 \div 2}\} + 5&=\\[5pt] {\color{magenta}3} + 5& \end{align}

Finally, we add: \begin{align} 3 + 5 &=\\[5pt] 8 \end{align}

FLAG

In the expression below, which part of the expression should be calculated first?

\{ [6 + (3 \times 4)] \div 9 \} \times 7

EXPLANATION

To evaluate the given expression, we must follow the order of operations with parentheses. Therefore, we should start with the operation that's inside the most inner parentheses:

\{ [6 + ({\color{blue}{3 \times 4}})] \div 9 \} \times 7

So we should calculate {\color{blue}{3 \times 4}} first.

FLAG

In the expression below, which part of the expression should be calculated first?

\[\{3+[(22+3)\div 5 +6\times 2]\}\div 4.\]

a
$22+3$
b
$6\times 2$
c
$6\div 4$
d
$5+6$
e
$3+5$

In the expression below, which part of the expression should be calculated first?

\[ \{1 - 4 \times [18 \div 3(2 + 4)] \} + 9 \]

a
$1-4$
b
$18\div 3$
c
$2+4$
d
$4\times 18$
e
$3\times 2$

Evaluate \{ [(4 \times 2) - 5] + 3\} \div 3.

EXPLANATION

To evaluate the given expression, we follow the order of operations with parentheses.

First, we perform the operation inside the inner parentheses:

\begin{align} \{ [(4 \times 2) - 5] + 3\} \div 3&= \{ [({\color{blue}{4 \times 2}}) - 5] + 3\} \div 3 \\[5pt] &= \{ [{\color{blue}{8}} - 5] + 3\} \div 3 & \end{align}

Next, we perform the operation inside the square brackets:

\begin{align} \{ [8 - 5] + 3\} \div 3&= \{ [{\color{red}{8 - 5}}] + 3\} \div 3\\[5pt] &=\{ {\color{red}{3}} + 3\} \div 3 \end{align}

Next, we perform the operation inside the braces:

\begin{align} \{3 + 3\} \div 3&= \{{\color{magenta}3 + 3}\} \div 3\\[5pt] &={\color{magenta}6} \div 3& \end{align}

Finally, we divide:

\begin{align} 6 \div 3 &= 2 \end{align}

FLAG

$\{ [(1 \times 2) + 3] - 1\} \div 2 =$

a
$5$
b
$2$
c
$3$
d
$1$
e
$6$

$\{5 + [18 - (4 \times 2)] \} \div 3 = $

a
b
c
d
e

$7\times\{15\div [9-(1+3)] \} = $

a
b
c
d
e
Flag Content
Did you notice an error, or do you simply believe that something could be improved? Please explain below.
SUBMIT
CANCEL