Server Error

Server Not Reachable.

This may be due to your internet connection or the nubtrek server is offline.

Thought-Process to Discover Knowledge

Welcome to nubtrek.

Books and other education websites provide "matter-of-fact" knowledge. Instead, nubtrek provides a thought-process to discover knowledge.

In each of the topic, the outline of the thought-process, for that topic, is provided for learners and educators.

Read in the blogs more about the unique learning experience at nubtrek.
mathsIntegersNumerical Expressions with Integers

### Integers: Simplification of Expressions

In this page, handling of integers, both positive and negative numbers, in numerical expressions is explained.

The precedence order PEMDAS / BODMAS is explained.

For operations of same precedence order, the sequence of operation "simplification from left to right" is explained.

click on the content to continue..

Let us quickly revise what is numerical expression, and precedence order, sequence in simplifying the numerical expressions. This was introduced in whole numbers. It takes very little time to revise.

Consider 2+4+3. This can be evaluated to 9.

This is an example of a numerical expression.

The word "expression" means: collection of numbers and arithmetic operations between them, which together represent a quantity.

familiarize with the terminology
numerical expression

2xx4xx3 is an example of a numerical expression. It is evaluated to 24.

a+3x is not a numerical expression. It is not entirely numbers and arithmetic operations. It has letters a and x.

Solved Exercise Problem:

Is 3+4-2+1 a numerical expression?

• No, it has both addition and subtraction
• Yes, addition and subtraction can be part of a numerical expression
• Yes, addition and subtraction can be part of a numerical expression

The answer is "Yes, addition and subtraction can be part of an expression".

Solved Exercise Problem:

Is 3+4xx2-6-:3 a numerical expression?

• No, as it has the addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
• Yes, all arithmetic operations can be part of a numerical expression
• Yes, all arithmetic operations can be part of a numerical expression

The answer is "Yes, all arithmetic operations can be part of a numerical expression"

Solved Exercise Problem:

is 3 a numerical expression?

• No. 3 is only a number. Not a numerical expression
• Yes. technically a number can also be considered a numerical expression
• Yes. technically a number can also be considered a numerical expression

The answer is "Yes. technically a number can also be considered a numerical expression".

Consider 1+2 and 3xx1. Note that when evaluated, both result in identical numerical value 1+2=3 and 3xx1 = 3.

They are two different expressions, evaluating to equal values.

Consider 9-6-:3.

To simplify the expression, the division is performed first. It is

9-6-:3

=9-2

=7

Division has higher precedence over subtraction.

In a numerical expression the precedence order is given as :

•  Brackets / Parentheses

•  Order / Exponent

•  Division and Multiplication

This is abbreviated as BODMAS or PEMDAS.

Consider 20-4-3.

It is wrong to do 20-4-3 !=20-1 =19.

The correct order of simplification is 20-4-3 = 16-3 =13

The two subtractions are in the same precedence level. This is to be handled from left to right sequence.

Consider 36-:6-:3

It is wrong to simplify as 36-:6-:3 !=36-:2 =18

The correct order of simplification is 36-:6-:3 =6 -:3 = 2.

The two divisions are in same precedence level. This is to be handled from left to right sequence. .

Rule of sequence is, when multiple operation of same precedence is to be simplified, the operations are performed from left to right sequence.

Consider 6-:3xx2.

The division and multiplication are of same precedence, so it is simplified from left to right.

6-:3xx2

=2xx2

=4

Consider 6-:(3xx2)

The bracket has higher precedence, and so the expression inside bracket is simplified first.

6-:(3xx2)

=6-:6

=1

The rule of brackets or parentheses in numerical expression is, the subexpression within a bracket or parentheses has the highest precedence

In a numerical expression, the precedence order is:
•  Parentheses or Brackets is the highest precedence order
•  division and multiplication in same level same level of precedence
•  addition and subtraction in same level of precedence.

This is abbreviated as BODMAS (Brackets, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction) or PEMDAS (Parentheses, Multiplication, Division, Adddition, Subtraction).

When multiple operation of same precedence is to be simplified, the operations are performed from left to right sequence.

All these were studied as part of whole numbers. The same applies for integers.

•  Precedence order BODMAS / PEMDAS

•  Left to Right sequence for same precedence

Let us simplify some expressions of integers.

Solved Exercise Problem:

Simplify 4+(-6)-:3xx(-2)

• 8
• 8
• 5

The answer is "8".

4+(-6)-:3xx(-2)

The division and multiplication are of higher precedence over addition. In that, the division and multiplication are of same precedence, so it is simplified from left to right.
=4+(-2)xx(-2)

Multiplication is of higher precedence
=4+4

=8.

Solved Exercise Problem:

Simplify 10-(-3)-2xx(-3).

• 19
• 19
• 7

The answer is "19".

10-(-3)-2xx(-3)

The multiplication is of higher precedence over subtraction
=10-(-3)-(-6)

the two subtraction are in the same precedence level and so they are simplified in the left to right sequence.
=13-(-6)

=19

Solved Exercise Problem:

Simplify (-1+3-1)xx2+(-2)-1

• -5
• -1
• -1

The answer is "-1"

(-1+3-1)xx2+(-2)-1

Bracket is of the highest precedence
=1xx2+(-2)-1

multiplication is higher in precedence
=2+(-2)-1

left to right sequence for operations of same precedence
=0-1

=-1

Solved Exercise Problem:

What is the value of -3-((-1)-2xx2)?

• -8
• 2
• 2

The answer is "2".

-3-((-1)-2xx2)

brackets take precedence and within the brackets, the multiplication is higher precedence.
=-3-((-1)-4)

brackets have higher precedence
=-3-(-5)

subtraction of negative is positive
=-3+5

simplifying
=2

Solved Exercise Problem:

What is the value of -3-(-1)-1?

• -3
• -3
• -5

The answer is "-3".
-3-(-1)-1

bracket takes the highest precedence
=-3+1-1

left to right sequence
=-2-1

=-3

Solved Exercise Problem:

Simplify 4+6-:(-3xx2)

• 3
• 3
• 5

The answer is "3".

4+6-:(-3xx2)

The expression inside bracket is simplified first.
=4+6-:(-6)

The division is of higher precedence over addition.
=4+(-1)

=3.

Solved Exercise Problem:

Simplify (10-3-2)xx(-3).

• -1
• -15
• -15

The answer is "-15".

(10-3-2)xx(-3)

The expression inside bracket is simplified first. The two subtraction are in the same precedence level and so they are simplified in the left to right sequence.
=(7-2)xx(-3)
completing the expression inside bracket
=5xx(-3)

=-15

Simplification of Expressions : BODMAS

•  B - Brackets

•  O - Order (exponents, roots, logarithm)

•  D - Division

•  M - Multiplication

•  S - Subtraction

•  And Left to Right sequence for multiple operations of same precedence.

PEMDAS

•  P - Parentheses

•  E - Exponents (roots and logarithm)

•  M - Multiplication

•  D - Division