Solve the Arithmetic Expression: 7 + 2 - 4

Order of Operations with Left-to-Right Evaluation

7+24= ? 7+2-4=\text{ ?}

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1

Understand the problem

7+24= ? 7+2-4=\text{ ?}

2

Step-by-step solution

First, we perform the addition: 7+2=9 7 + 2 = 9 .

Next, we do the subtraction: 94=5 9 - 4 = 5 .

Hence, the answer is 5 5 .

3

Final Answer

5 5

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Rule: Addition and subtraction have equal priority, work left to right
  • Technique: Calculate 7 + 2 = 9 first, then 9 - 4 = 5
  • Check: Verify by grouping: (7 + 2) - 4 = 9 - 4 = 5 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Doing subtraction before addition
    Don't calculate 2 - 4 = -2 first, then 7 + (-2) = 5! This ignores left-to-right order and can confuse you with negative numbers. Always work from left to right when operations have equal priority.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

\( 8 - 2 + 6 = \)

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why can't I do the subtraction first since it comes after the addition?

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Addition and subtraction have equal priority in order of operations! When operations have the same priority, you must work left to right. This is like reading - you go from left to right.

What if I accidentally did 2 - 4 first and got -2?

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You'd get 7 + (-2) = 5, which happens to be correct! But this method can lead to mistakes with bigger numbers. Always follow left-to-right order to avoid confusion.

Does it matter if I use parentheses to show my steps?

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Great idea! Writing (7 + 2) - 4 = 9 - 4 = 5 shows your thinking clearly. Parentheses help you organize your work and catch mistakes.

How do I remember to go left to right?

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Think of it like reading a sentence - you start on the left and move right! For math expressions with same-priority operations, follow the same rule.

What if there were multiplication or division in this problem?

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Multiplication and division would come before addition and subtraction. But among themselves, multiplication and division also follow left-to-right order.

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