# Math Help - What is M in terms of a single number? (Order of mathematical operations)

1. ## What is M in terms of a single number? (Order of mathematical operations)

These two problems are about the order of mathematical operations,
something we didn't cover in my high school maths course.
I hope someone is willing to explain it to me!

Solve the following problems without a calculator:

1. Given the following equation, what is M in terms of a single number?

0 = 6 X 2/3 + (-1)6 X (M+3)/(2-4)2

2. Given the following equation, find the possible values of Q.

-2 = (-2)3 + (-1)3 X 18Q X (Q + 5)/3

A huge thank you in advance!

2. ## Re: What is M in terms of a single number? (Order of mathematical operations)

It is my experience that they don't normally cover (6 X (2/3)) or $(2- 4)^2$, or "order of operations" in a high school class- they expect you to have learned things like that in elementary school! What does your equation become if you replace (6 X (2/3)) with 4 and $(2- 4)^2= (-2)^2$ with 4?

Do you know what $(-2)^3$ and $(-1)^3$ are?

The "order of operations" can be remembered as "PEMDAS" (sometimes "Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally"). Any operations inside Parentheses before the parentheses are combined with other numbers, Exponents are dealt with before Multiplication or Division which are done before Addition or Subtraction.