Final answer:
After following the order of operations (PEMDAS), the expression 2.5+5*6-2^2 simplifies to 28.5, which does not equal the target value of 41.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question 'Target value 41: 2.5+5*6-2^2' pertains to the evaluation of an algebraic expression to verify if it equals the target value of 41. To solve this problem, one must follow the order of operations, often remembered by the acronym PEMDAS, which stands for Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division (from left to right), and Addition and Subtraction (from left to right).
Let's calculate:
- Multiplication: 5*6 = 30
- Exponents: 2^2 = 4
- Addition and Subtraction: 2.5 + 30 - 4
Add the results of multiplication and the initial value, then subtract the result of the exponentiation:
2.5 + 30 = 32.5
32.5 - 4 = 28.5
The expression simplifies to 28.5, which does not equal the target value of 41.