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When an expression mixes division, multiplication, and addition without grouping symbols, the order of operations requires completing all multiplications and divisions (from left to right) before any additions:
- Divide first (left to right): Because division appears to the left of the multiplication, compute first. The expression becomes .
- Multiply: Compute (same signs produce a positive product). The expression becomes .
- Add: Compute (different signs — subtract the smaller absolute value from the larger and take the sign of the number with the larger absolute value).
The final result is . This example highlights that multiplication and division share equal priority, so when both appear in an expression they are performed left to right — not multiplication before division. Here the division is evaluated first simply because it appears further to the left.
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