Question

How do you simplify $12 - 3 \times 4$ using order of operations?

Answer 1

Hint: To solve the given expression, first we should know that the given expression belongs to the property of exponents. So, we will solve this question by using the property of exponent of both division and multiplication.

Complete step-by-step solution:
First we will discuss the steps to solve the question related to PEMDAS:-
Step-1: Identify Parenthesis and then solve Parenthesis, if it is present in the given expression.
Step-2: Rewrite the expression. And then identify exponents and solve for the exponents.
Step-3: Again rewrite the expression and identify multiplication problems and solve the multiplication operations.
Step-4: Again rewrite the expression and identify the division problem and solve for it.
Step-5: In the next step, identify and solve the addition operation.
Step-6: Identify the subtraction problems and go for the subtraction operation.
Step-7: Finally, we will get our simplest form.
Now, solve for the given expression based on the above steps:
Given expression: $12 - 3 \times 4$
Use the PEMDAS process or steps to solve the expression-
We have to do multiplication operation first:
$12 - 12$ (3 multiply 4 is 12)
Now, proceed the subtraction operation, and we get “0”

Hence, the simplification of $12 - 3 \times 4$ is 0.

Note: PEMDAS is an acronym used to remind people of the order of operations. This means that you don't just solve math problems from left to right; rather, you solve them in a predetermined order that's given to you via the acronym PEMDAS.