Solve the Expression: 15 + 8 - 6 Step by Step

Q: Why do I work from left to right?

Addition and subtraction have equal priority in order of operations, so we follow the left-to-right rule. This ensures everyone gets the same answer!

Q: Can I group the operations differently?

No! Unlike multiplication and addition, subtraction is not commutative. The order matters, so always follow left-to-right for same-level operations.

Q: What if I accidentally did 8 - 6 first?

You'd get $ 15 + 2 = 17 $, which happens to be correct here! But this method fails with problems like $ 10 - 3 + 2 $, so stick to left-to-right.

Q: How can I remember the correct order?

Think of it like reading a sentence - you go from left to right! When operations have equal priority (like + and -), always work in reading order.

Q: Is there a way to double-check my work?

Yes! Try working backwards: $ 17 + 6 = 23 $ and $ 23 - 8 = 15 $. If you get back to your starting number, you're correct!

Basic Arithmetic with Mixed Operations

Solve:

$15+8-6\text{ }=$

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Step-by-step written solution

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Understand the problem

Solve:

$15+8-6\text{ }=$

Step-by-step solution

To solve $15+8-6$ follow these steps:

$15 + 8 = 23$ .

$23 - 6 = 17$ .

So the answer is $17$ .

Final Answer

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Order: Work from left to right with addition and subtraction
Technique: First calculate 15 + 8 = 23, then 23 - 6
Check: Verify by adding back: 17 + 6 = 23, and 23 - 8 = 15 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Doing subtraction before addition
Don't calculate 8 - 6 = 2 first, then 15 + 2 = 17! This ignores left-to-right order and can give wrong answers in more complex problems. 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 do I work from left to right?

Addition and subtraction have equal priority in order of operations, so we follow the left-to-right rule. This ensures everyone gets the same answer!

Can I group the operations differently?

No! Unlike multiplication and addition, subtraction is not commutative. The order matters, so always follow left-to-right for same-level operations.

What if I accidentally did 8 - 6 first?

You'd get $15 + 2 = 17$ , which happens to be correct here! But this method fails with problems like $10 - 3 + 2$ , so stick to left-to-right.

How can I remember the correct order?

Think of it like reading a sentence - you go from left to right! When operations have equal priority (like + and -), always work in reading order.

Is there a way to double-check my work?

Yes! Try working backwards: $17 + 6 = 23$ and $23 - 8 = 15$ . If you get back to your starting number, you're correct!

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