As a parent, I am confused as to how to write expressions. We are using the McGraw Hill Mathematics book (2002) for 5th grade. I understand the order of operations (PEMDAS) but am very confused how to evaluate the expression for value given. Example: 125 - x + 13 for x = 43 or 200 + 32 X a for a =20. Can you help me describe this to my son in easier terms and how to do it? How is the work done to arrive at the answer? Thanks for anything you can do.
Add/Subtract/Multiply/Divide Expressions
- Thread starter Divad2017
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I'm not sure what could be "easier" than "plug the number in for the letter, and simplify"...? :shock:Divad2017 said:
Since we can't teach lessons here anyway, try looking for online lessons that work better for you:
. . . . .Google results for "order of operations"
. . . . .Google results for "evaluate expression"
Have fun!
Eliz.
The lesson is teaching "substitution" of a value in place of a variable and simplifying the expression after substitution.
125 - x + 13 is your original expression.
For x, substitute 43:
125 - (43) + 13
And simplify: 125 - 43 + 13 = 95
Perform similar steps in your second example to arrive at 200 + 32 times 20 = 840
125 - x + 13 is your original expression.
For x, substitute 43:
125 - (43) + 13
And simplify: 125 - 43 + 13 = 95
Perform similar steps in your second example to arrive at 200 + 32 times 20 = 840
125 - x + 13 for x = 43
Would it help to physically make the substitution? I'm thinking you could write "x=43" on a piece of paper then carefully cut out just the 43. Put a dab of stickum on the back of that chard of paper and stick it right on top of the x in the expression so that it now reads 125 - 43 + 13.
I might suggest that at some later time he will be introduced to negative numbers in which case you always want to include the sign with the number by enclosing in parenthesis. In other words, if x=-43, the expression would become 125 - (-43) + 13. But, save that for the future.
Would it help to physically make the substitution? I'm thinking you could write "x=43" on a piece of paper then carefully cut out just the 43. Put a dab of stickum on the back of that chard of paper and stick it right on top of the x in the expression so that it now reads 125 - 43 + 13.
I might suggest that at some later time he will be introduced to negative numbers in which case you always want to include the sign with the number by enclosing in parenthesis. In other words, if x=-43, the expression would become 125 - (-43) + 13. But, save that for the future.