Example

Simplifying 18(โˆ’4)รท(โˆ’2)318(-4) \div (-2)^3

To simplify this expression, the order of operations dictates that the exponent must be resolved before any multiplication or division:

  1. Exponents first: Evaluate (โˆ’2)3=(โˆ’2)(โˆ’2)(โˆ’2)=โˆ’8(-2)^3 = (-2)(-2)(-2) = -8. The expression becomes 18(โˆ’4)รท(โˆ’8)18(-4) \div (-8).
  2. Multiply: Moving left to right, compute the multiplication first: 18(โˆ’4)=โˆ’7218(-4) = -72 (different signs produce a negative product). The expression becomes โˆ’72รท(โˆ’8)-72 \div (-8).
  3. Divide: Compute the final quotient: โˆ’72รท(โˆ’8)=9-72 \div (-8) = 9 (same signs produce a positive quotient).

The simplified result is 99.

0

1

Updated 2026-04-20

Contributors are:

Who are from:

Tags

OpenStax

Intermediate Algebra @ OpenStax

Ch.1 Foundations - Intermediate Algebra @ OpenStax

Algebra

Related