Final answer:
The first step in solving the equation 3 + 4 x 6 - 4 is to perform the multiplication. Then, we can do the addition and subtraction to find the final answer of 23.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first step in solving the equation 3 + 4 x 6 - 4 is to perform the multiplication. According to the order of operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS), multiplication should be done before addition and subtraction. So, we need to multiply 4 and 6, which gives us 24.
Next, we need to do the addition and subtraction. Starting from left to right, we have 3 + 24 - 4. First, we add 3 and 24, which equals 27. Then, we subtract 4 from 27, giving us the final answer of 23.
The question, 'What would be my first step in solving the equation 3 + 4 x 6 - 4?' involves understanding the order of operations in mathematics. According to the rules of operation, also known as BIDMAS/BODMAS (Brackets, Indices/Orders, Division/Multiplication, Addition/Subtraction), multiplication is performed before addition and subtraction. Therefore, the first step in solving the equation is to perform the multiplication part of the expression, which is 4 x 6.
Therefore, the correct first step in solving the equation is d. multiplication.