Question

The three steps below were used to find the value of the expression

[(-10 + 2) - 1] + (2 + 3).

Step 1: ?

Step 2: -9 + 2 + 3

Step 3: -7 + 3

Which expression is missing from Step 1?


a. [-10 + 1] + (2 + 3)


b. [8 + 1] + (2 + 3)


c. [-8 - 1] + (2 + 3)


d. [-10 + -1 + 2] + (2 + 3)

Answer 1

C. [-8-1] + (2+3)

Explanation:

When solving [(-10+2)-1] + (2+3)

We follow PEMDAS and solve from left to right.

Since (-10+2) is the first parentheses, we solve and get -8

so it turns [(-10+2)-1] + (2+3) into

(-8-1) + (2+3)

get rid of 2+3's parenthese and solve for -8-1

-9 + 2 + 3

and then continue following steps shown in the question above.