Solve the Complex Negative Number Equation: -55 - (-94 - (-32)) + 12 ÷ 3/4 = ?

Q: Why does subtracting a negative become addition?

Think of it as removing debt! If you subtract a debt of $32 (which is negative), you're actually gaining $32. So $-94 - (-32)$ means "start at -94 and remove a debt of 32," giving you $-94 + 32 = -62$.

Q: How do I handle nested parentheses without getting confused?

Work from inside out! Start with the innermost parentheses first: $(-32)$, then $(-94 - (-32))$, and finally the outer expression. Use different colored pens or highlight each level as you work through it.

Q: What's the difference between 12 ÷ 3/4 and 12 ÷ 3 ÷ 4?

$12 ÷ \frac{3}{4}$ means dividing by the fraction 3/4, so you multiply by its reciprocal: $12 × \frac{4}{3} = 16$. But $12 ÷ 3 ÷ 4 = 4 ÷ 4 = 1$ gives a completely different answer!

Q: How can I check if my order of operations is correct?

Use the PEMDAS acronym: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division (left to right), Addition/Subtraction (left to right). Write each step clearly and double-check that you're following this exact sequence.

Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:11 Let's solve this problem together.

00:15 Remember: a negative times a negative always equals a positive.

00:26 Here's a tip: division is like multiplying by the reciprocal.

00:36 A negative times a positive will always be negative.

00:40 Let's factor 12 into four and three.

00:44 Now, simplify as much as you can.

00:48 Using the distributive law, split 55 into 50 and 5.

00:53 Again, use the distributive law to divide 94 into 90 and 4.

00:59 Break 32 into 30 and 2 with the distributive law.

01:03 Now, apply the distributive law to split 16 into 10 and 6.

01:08 Rearrange the exercise using substitution to simplify.

01:17 Great! Now let's combine the tens.

01:21 Next, combine the ones.

01:24 And that's how we find the solution to this problem!

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

1

Understand the problem

$-55-(-94-(-32))+12:\frac{3}{4}=\text{?}$

2

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, we'll follow these steps:

Step 1: Simplify the nested expressions and handle the negative signs.
Step 2: Perform the division operation involving the fraction.
Step 3: Combine the results from the two operations.

Now, let's work through each step:

Step 1: Address the nested subtraction.

First, simplify the innermost expression: $-94 - (-32)$ .

Recall that subtracting a negative is equivalent to addition: $-94 - (-32) = -94 + 32 = -62$ .

Now substitute this result back into the main expression: $-55 - (-62)$ .

Again, subtracting a negative is addition: $-55 - (-62) = -55 + 62 = 7$ .

Step 2: Resolve the division by a fraction.

Calculate $12 \div \frac{3}{4}$ :

Dividing by a fraction is equivalent to multiplying by its reciprocal: $12 \times \frac{4}{3} = \frac{48}{3} = 16$ .

Step 3: Combine results.

Now we add the results from steps 1 and 2: $7 + 16 = 23$ .

Therefore, the solution to the problem is $23$ .

3

Final Answer

$23$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Parentheses First: Resolve innermost expressions before working outward completely
Technique: Subtracting negative becomes addition: $-94 - (-32) = -94 + 32$
Check: Follow PEMDAS strictly and verify final calculation: $7 + 16 = 23$ ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Incorrectly handling double negatives in nested expressions
Don't change $-55 - (-94 - (-32))$ to $-55 - (-94 + (-32))$ = wrong signs throughout! This creates cascading errors in every step. Always work from innermost parentheses outward, carefully applying the rule that subtracting a negative equals adding a positive.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

$12:(2\times2)=$

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why does subtracting a negative become addition?

+

Think of it as removing debt! If you subtract a debt of $32 (which is negative), you're actually gaining $32. So $-94 - (-32)$ means "start at -94 and remove a debt of 32," giving you $-94 + 32 = -62$ .

How do I handle nested parentheses without getting confused?

+

Work from inside out! Start with the innermost parentheses first: $(-32)$ , then $(-94 - (-32))$ , and finally the outer expression. Use different colored pens or highlight each level as you work through it.

What's the difference between 12 ÷ 3/4 and 12 ÷ 3 ÷ 4?

+

$12 ÷ \frac{3}{4}$ means dividing by the fraction 3/4, so you multiply by its reciprocal: $12 × \frac{4}{3} = 16$ . But $12 ÷ 3 ÷ 4 = 4 ÷ 4 = 1$ gives a completely different answer!

How can I check if my order of operations is correct?

+

Use the PEMDAS acronym: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division (left to right), Addition/Subtraction (left to right). Write each step clearly and double-check that you're following this exact sequence.

What if I get a different answer than the choices given?

+

Go back and check your work step by step! Common errors include: mixing up signs with negatives, forgetting to multiply by the reciprocal when dividing by fractions, or rushing through parentheses. Take your time with each operation.

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Solve the Complex Negative Number Equation: -55 - (-94 - (-32)) + 12 ÷ 3/4 = ?

Order of Operations with Nested Negatives

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