Step by step
The question
Question: work out 18 − 3 × 4.
18 − 3 × 4
1 Times and divide
Times comes before minus.
Order: ( ) → x² √ → × ÷ → + −
3 times 4 is 12.
= 18 − 12
2 Plus and minus
18 minus 12 is 6.
= 6
Careful!
Many people go from left to right and get 60.
But times and divide come before plus and minus.
Careful: not 18 − 3 × 4 = 60 ✗
So the answer is 6.
Let's look back.
First: times and divide.
Last: plus and minus.
Answer
= 6