How do you simplify 2*-1^3 - 3* -1 * 2 ?

1 Answer
Jun 17, 2015

Using PEMDAS

2*-1^3-3*-1*2

Explanation:

2*-1^3-3*-1*2

First put parentheses around negative number constants to avoid confusion of their minus signs with subtraction signs.

Then use PEMDAS to provide operator precedence rules:

Parentheses
Exponents
Multiplication & Division
Addition & Subtraction

When precedence is otherwise equal, work left to right.

2*(-1)^3-3*(-1)*2

2*color(red)((-1)^3)-3*(-1)*2

= color(red)(2*(-1))-3*(-1)*2

= (-2)-color(red)(3*(-1))*2

= (-2)-color(red)((-3)*2)

= color(red)((-2)-(-6))

= 4