1. ## BEDMAS question

Is the workings to this question right?

(can't align the code properly, the last number is a fraction -4/3)

Code:
-(4 - (-2) ) (-3) -4 / (-4)
__
3

= - (6) (-3) -4 / (-4)
__
3

= - (6) (-3) -4 * -3
__    __
1     4

= - (6) (-3) + 12
__
3

= - (6) (-3)  + 3

= 18 + 3

= 21
This question on BEDMAS is too confusing, is the correct answer "21"?

Thanks.

2. It's quite hard trying to read that code, since as you said, the aligning is off.

Although, quickly glancing at it, you have 12 / 3 = 3. So just by that the answer would not be 21. In that case, it would be 22, assuming everything else is correct.

3. If I read that correctly, you have:

-(4 - -2) * -3 * [(-4)/(-4/3)],

In which case, that equals 54.

4. Thanks, Aftershock for putting on the right track. Let me try again.

-(4 - (-2) ) (-3) -4 / (-4/3)

The reason why the equation is written as above is that was how the question was presented.

BEDMAS rules

Brackets first, so:

-(4 - (-2) )
= -(4 +2)
= -6

Next is division, so:

-4 / (-4/3)
= -4/1 * 3/-4
= 3

We now have:

-(4 - (-2) ) (-3) -4 / (-4/3)

= -6 (-3) 3

= 18 * 3

= 54

5. correct

Although I always learned the Rules in the form: PEMDAS

Paranthesis
Exponents
Multiplication
Division
Subtraction

Which you can remember by:

Excuse
My
Dear
Aunt
Sally

6. Originally Posted by shenton
-(4 - (-2) ) (-3) -4 / (-4/3)

BEDMAS rules

Brackets first, so:

-(4 - (-2) )
= -(4 +2)
= -6

Next is division, so:

-4 / (-4/3)
= -4/1 * 3/-4
= 3

We now have:

-(4 - (-2) ) (-3) -4 / (-4/3)

= -6 (-3) 3
I disagree with this step.
-(4-(-2))(-3) - 4/(-4/3)

The placement of the red negative sign indicates a subtraction, not a negative sign on the 4. To multiply we would need to see parenthesis around the "-4" to group it. Thus we are not multiplying.

-(4-(-2))(-3) + -4/(-4/3)

-6(-3) + 3

18 + 3

21

Sorry I didn't weigh in on this sooner. I couldn't make sense out of the original expression.

-Dan

7. Originally Posted by Quick

Although I always learned the Rules in the form: PEMDAS

Paranthesis
Exponents
Multiplication
Division
Subtraction
Thanks, Quick for coming in.

That (PEMDAS) is interesting as it is different from BEDMAS.

Brackets
Exponents
Division
Multiplication
Subtraction

As you can see, multiplication comes first in PEMDAS while Division comes first in BEDMAS.

I'm just learning, I don't know which is correct.

8. Originally Posted by topsquark
I disagree with this step.
-(4-(-2))(-3) - 4/(-4/3)

The placement of the red negative sign indicates a subtraction, not a negative sign on the 4. To multiply we would need to see parenthesis around the "-4" to group it. Thus we are not multiplying.

-(4-(-2))(-3) + -4/(-4/3)

-6(-3) + 3

18 + 3

21
This question is certainly tricky. When I first work on the question, I took the "-" as a subtraction and when I reworked, I took it as a negative sign.

9. Originally Posted by shenton
Subtraction

As you can see, multiplication comes first in PEMDAS while Division comes first in BEDMAS.
.
Brackets and parantheses are the same.

Multiplication is the same as division.

10. We use BODMAS in Australia at least when I was taught it.

O standing for Order same as exponents.