Step by step
The question
Question: work out 12 − 3 × 4.
12 − 3 × 4
1 Times and divide
Times comes before minus.
Order: ( ) → x² √ → × ÷ → + −
3 times 4 is 12.
= 12 − 12
2 Plus and minus
12 minus 12 is 0.
= 0
Careful!
Many people go from left to right and get 36.
But times and divide come before plus and minus.
Careful: not 12 − 3 × 4 = 36 ✗
So the answer is 0.
Let's look back.
First: times and divide.
Last: plus and minus.
Answer
= 0