MathRevolution wrote:
10 + 8 ÷ 3 × 6 - 2 =?
A. 24
B. 34
C. 22
D. 12
E. 11
There are 2 (or even 3) acronyms for determining which operation we perform first: PEMDAS, BODMAS, PEDMAS
The important thing to note is that, if we have to choose between Multiplication and Division, we perform those operations from left to right.
Likewise, if we have to choose between Addition and Subtraction, we perform those operations from left to right.
So, the acronym PEMDAS should have a hierarchy that looks like this:
P
E
MD
AS
Given: 10 + 8 ÷ 3 × 6 - 2. Multiplication and Division are more important that Addition and Subtraction. So, we'll perform those operations first. Since neither operation (Multiplication or Division) is more important than the other, we perform them from left to right. So, in this case, we divide first.
We get: 10 +
8 ÷ 3 × 6 - 2 = 10 +
8/3 × 6 - 2
Next, we must perform multiplication: 10 +
8/3 × 6 - 2 = 10 +
16 - 2
Since neither operation (Addition or Subtraction) is more important than the other, we perform them from left to right. So, in this case, we add first.
We get:
10 + 16 - 2 =
26 - 2
= 24
Answer: A
Cheers,
Brent
_________________
Brent Hanneson – GMATPrepNow.com
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73% (00:56) correct 
