To solve this correctly, we must follow the standard Order of Operations (often referred to as PEMDAS or BODMAS), which dictates the sequence in which mathematical operations should be performed.
The Equation:
$$15 – 3 \times 4 + 6 = ?$$
Step-by-Step Breakdown:
1. Multiplication first
According to the rules, multiplication must be done before addition or subtraction.
$$3 \times 4 = 12$$Now, substitute that back into the equation:
$$15 – 12 + 6$$
2. Subtraction and Addition (Left to Right)
When you are left with only addition and subtraction, you simply perform them in the order they appear from left to right.
First, the subtraction:$$15 – 12 = 3$$
Then, the final addition:$$3 + 6 = 9$$
Can you solve this calculation without rushing? 15 – 3 × 4 + 6 = ?
To solve this correctly, we must follow the standard Order of Operations (often referred to as PEMDAS or BODMAS), which dictates the sequence in which mathematical operations should be performed.
The Equation:
$$15 – 3 \times 4 + 6 = ?$$
Step-by-Step Breakdown:
1. Multiplication first
According to the rules, multiplication must be done before addition or subtraction.
$$3 \times 4 = 12$$
Now, substitute that back into the equation:
$$15 – 12 + 6$$
2. Subtraction and Addition (Left to Right)
When you are left with only addition and subtraction, you simply perform them in the order they appear from left to right.
First, the subtraction:$$15 – 12 = 3$$
Then, the final addition:$$3 + 6 = 9$$
Final Result:
9
Why people often get this wrong:
If you “rush” and go strictly from left to right without following the order of operations, you might do $15 – 3 = 12$, then $12 \times 4 = 48$, and $48 + 6 = 54$. However, in mathematics, multiplication always takes priority over basic addition and subtraction!
