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Jay simplified the expression -3 × (3 + 12 ÷ 3) - 4. For his first step, he added 3 + 12 to get 15. What was Jay’s error?

User Evandongen
by
2.9k points

2 Answers

10 votes

Answer:

i dont know

Explanation:

User VladFr
by
3.4k points
12 votes

Answer:

He should have divided 12 ÷ 3 first.

Explanation:

Following PEMDAS/BODMAS, the first step is solving equations in parentheses. Since the parentheses contain a multi-step equation, Jay needs to follow PEMDAS for inside the parentheses as well. Instead of adding 3+12 first, he should have done division first (12 ÷ 3).

How the problem should be solved:

-3 × (3 + 12 ÷ 3) - 4

-3 × (3 + 4) -4

-3 × 7 - 4

-21 - 4

-25

User Steven Choi
by
3.6k points