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

Solve the following equation:

$12+7-5\text{ }=$

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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