5 + 2 * 9 - 3 = 42
Right now there is an imaginary parentheses around (2 * 9) because you always solve multiplication first.
If we put a parentheses around (5 + 2), the answer would be:
7 * 9 - 3 = 60
If we put a parentheses around (9 - 3), the answer would be:
5 + 2 * 6 = 17
If we put parentheses around (5 + 2) and (9 - 3), the answer would be:
7 * 6 = 42
Your answer is: (5 + 2) * (9 - 3) = 42