Solve the Arithmetic Expression: 8-6+4

Q: Why can't I add 6 + 4 first since it's easier?

Great question! Even though 6 + 4 = 10 is easier to calculate, you must follow the left-to-right rule when operations have the same priority. Addition and subtraction are equal priority, so work left to right.

Q: What if I got -2 as my answer?

If you got -2, you likely calculated $8 - (6 + 4) = 8 - 10 = -2$. Remember, there are no parentheses here, so don't group 6 + 4 together!

Q: Is there a trick to remember the order?

Yes! Think of it like reading a sentence - you go from left to right. For $8 - 6 + 4$, just follow the operations in the order they appear: subtract first, then add.

Q: What if there were parentheses in the problem?

Parentheses always come first! If you saw $8 - (6 + 4)$, then you'd calculate inside the parentheses first: 6 + 4 = 10, then 8 - 10 = -2.

Q: How can I double-check my work?

Use the step-by-step method:Step 1: $8 - 6 = 2$Step 2: $2 + 4 = 6$Final answer: 6

Order of Operations with Mixed Addition-Subtraction

$8-6+4=\text{ ?}$

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Understand the problem

$8-6+4=\text{ ?}$

Step-by-step solution

First, subtract 6 from 8 to get 2.

$8 - 6 = 2$

Then, add 4 to 2 to get 6.

$2 + 4 = 6$

Final Answer

$6$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Rule: Work left to right when operations have equal priority
Technique: Calculate 8 - 6 = 2 first, then 2 + 4 = 6
Check: Verify by evaluating step-by-step: 8 - 6 + 4 = 2 + 4 = 6 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Adding and subtracting in wrong order
Don't calculate 6 + 4 first to get 8 - 10 = -2! This ignores the left-to-right rule and gives the wrong answer. Always work from left to right when addition and subtraction appear together.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

$$ 8 - 2 + 6 = $$

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why can't I add 6 + 4 first since it's easier?

Great question! Even though 6 + 4 = 10 is easier to calculate, you must follow the left-to-right rule when operations have the same priority. Addition and subtraction are equal priority, so work left to right.

What if I got -2 as my answer?

If you got -2, you likely calculated $8 - (6 + 4) = 8 - 10 = -2$ . Remember, there are no parentheses here, so don't group 6 + 4 together!

Is there a trick to remember the order?

Yes! Think of it like reading a sentence - you go from left to right. For $8 - 6 + 4$ , just follow the operations in the order they appear: subtract first, then add.

What if there were parentheses in the problem?

Parentheses always come first! If you saw $8 - (6 + 4)$ , then you'd calculate inside the parentheses first: 6 + 4 = 10, then 8 - 10 = -2.

How can I double-check my work?

Use the step-by-step method:

Step 1: $8 - 6 = 2$
Step 2: $2 + 4 = 6$
Final answer: 6

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