Solve 37-(4-7): Order of Operations with Parentheses

Order of Operations with Negative Results

37(47)= 37-(4-7)=

❤️ Continue Your Math Journey!

We have hundreds of course questions with personalized recommendations + Account 100% premium

Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Solve
00:03 Always solve parentheses first
00:10 Note - negative times negative is always positive
00:18 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

37(47)= 37-(4-7)=

2

Step-by-step solution

According to the order of operations, we first solve the exercise within parentheses:

47=3 4-7=-3

Now we obtain:

37(3)= 37-(-3)=

Remember that the product of a negative and a negative results in a positive, therefore:

(3)=+3 -(-3)=+3

Now we obtain:

37+3=40 37+3=40

3

Final Answer

40 40

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Rule: Always solve expressions inside parentheses first
  • Technique: Calculate 4-7 = -3, then substitute into 37-(-3)
  • Check: Double negative becomes positive: -(-3) = +3, so 37+3 = 40 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Working left to right without considering parentheses
    Don't calculate 37-4 = 33 first and then subtract 7! This ignores the order of operations and gives 26 instead of 40. Always solve what's inside parentheses before doing anything else.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

\( 70:(14\times5)= \)

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why can't I just go from left to right?

+

The order of operations (PEMDAS) requires you to solve parentheses first! Going left to right would give you the wrong answer because math has specific rules about which operations to do first.

What happens when I subtract a negative number?

+

Subtracting a negative is the same as adding a positive! Think of it as: 37(3)=37+3=40 37-(-3) = 37+3 = 40 . The two negative signs cancel each other out.

How do I remember that two negatives make a positive?

+

Think of it like this: if you remove a debt, you're actually gaining money! So removing a negative (subtracting) gives you a positive result.

What if the parentheses give me a positive result instead?

+

Then you just subtract normally! For example, if you had 37(74)=373=34 37-(7-4) = 37-3 = 34 . The key is always solving the parentheses first.

Can I check my answer a different way?

+

Yes! You can work backwards: if 40 is correct, then 40+(3)=37 40+(-3) = 37 , and 3=47 -3 = 4-7 . Both check out, so 40 is right!

🌟 Unlock Your Math Potential

Get unlimited access to all 18 Commutative, Distributive and Associative Properties questions, detailed video solutions, and personalized progress tracking.

📹

Unlimited Video Solutions

Step-by-step explanations for every problem

📊

Progress Analytics

Track your mastery across all topics

🚫

Ad-Free Learning

Focus on math without distractions

No credit card required • Cancel anytime

More Questions

Click on any question to see the complete solution with step-by-step explanations