Solve the Expression: 25 + 10 - 7 Step by Step

Q: Why do I work from left to right instead of doing subtraction first?

Addition and subtraction have equal priority in order of operations. When operations have the same priority, you must work from left to right. This ensures everyone gets the same answer!

Q: What if I accidentally did 25 + (10 - 7) instead?

That would give you $ 25 + 3 = 28 $. You got lucky this time! But this method is wrong and will fail with different numbers. Always follow left-to-right order.

Q: Does the order really matter for addition and subtraction?

Yes, absolutely! Try this example: $ 10 - 5 + 2 $. Left to right gives 7, but doing addition first gives 3. See the difference?

Q: How can I remember to work left to right?

Think of it like reading a sentence - you read from left to right! When addition and subtraction appear together, treat them the same way.

Q: What should I do first when I see a problem like this?

First, identify the operations. Since you only have addition and subtraction, work from left to right. No need to worry about multiplication, division, or parentheses here!

Order of Operations with Addition and Subtraction

Solve:

$25 + 10 - 7$

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Understand the problem

Solve:

$25 + 10 - 7$

Step-by-step solution

First, add 25 and 10:

$25 + 10 = 35$

Then, subtract 7:

$35 - 7 = 28$

So, the correct answer is 28.

Final Answer

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Rule: Work from left to right when operations have equal priority
Technique: First calculate 25 + 10 = 35, then 35 - 7 = 28
Check: Substitute back: 25 + 10 - 7 = 35 - 7 = 28 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Calculating subtraction before addition
Don't solve 10 - 7 = 3 first, then add 25 = wrong answer 28! This ignores left-to-right order and gives incorrect results. Always work from left to right when operations have the same priority level.

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 instead of doing subtraction first?

Addition and subtraction have equal priority in order of operations. When operations have the same priority, you must work from left to right. This ensures everyone gets the same answer!

What if I accidentally did 25 + (10 - 7) instead?

That would give you $25 + 3 = 28$ . You got lucky this time! But this method is wrong and will fail with different numbers. Always follow left-to-right order.

Does the order really matter for addition and subtraction?

Yes, absolutely! Try this example: $10 - 5 + 2$ . Left to right gives 7, but doing addition first gives 3. See the difference?

How can I remember to work left to right?

Think of it like reading a sentence - you read from left to right! When addition and subtraction appear together, treat them the same way.

What should I do first when I see a problem like this?

First, identify the operations. Since you only have addition and subtraction, work from left to right. No need to worry about multiplication, division, or parentheses here!

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