Parenthesis???

[Putter]

When a number is in parenthesis like in this problem what needs to be done with the number/numbers before moving forward with the next step?

6+10-8/(-1)+(5)

 

[Chaim]

Yeah, did you mean what Denis said?
Paranthesis indicates what is going on before you do something
For example: 3 + 2 / (1 + 4)
So it would be 3 + 2 / 5
If you do 3 + 2 / 1 then add 4, that is incorrect.

Another example is -1(5^2)
It would then be -25, because you had to square first in the paranthesis then multiply by -1

If it was like this (-1*5)^2
It would be 25 because you have to do what is in the paranthesis first.

 

[mmm4444bot]

your problem as posted is insignificant

There is nothing insignificant about an Order-of-Operations exercise in a beginning algebra course!

Perhaps, Denis has been out of school too long. The expression in the original post is valid as typed.

-1/(-8) is proper form.

-1/-8 is not proper form.

Never type a negation sign directly following a mathematical operator. In these situations, we always enclose a negative number inside parentheses.

 

[mmm4444bot]

When a number is in parenthesis like in this problem what needs to be done with the number/numbers before moving forward with the next step?


6+10-8/(-1)+(5)

The parentheses enclosing 5 are not needed (do you understand why?), so you can delete them.


6 + 10 - 8/(-1) + 5


Now follow the Order of Operations.


Division is done before addition or subtraction.