Question

What is 5 less than 4 times 7

Answer 1

-31

Explanation:

Let's put this into an equation:

`4-5 *7`

Note that 5 less than 4 means I take 5 AWAY from 4, not 5-4.

Most people would go about this straight across, doing 4-5, -1, and then times 7 which would be -7.
BUT if there are no parentheses around 4-5, we do 5 times 7 first.

Why? In PEMDAS or order of operations, you multiply before subtracting.

That means I do 5 times 7 first. That is 35.

Now I subtract 4-35. That is -31.

Answer 2

23 is 5 less than 4x7
Because
4x7=28
28-5=23