Solve the Expression: 53 + 6 - 20 Step by Step

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

Addition and subtraction have equal priority in order of operations! When operations have the same level, you must work from left to right. This is different from multiplication/division coming before addition/subtraction.

Q: Is there a faster way to solve this?

You could think of it as $ 53 + 6 - 20 = 53 + (6 - 20) = 53 + (-14) = 39 $, but this requires understanding negative numbers. The safest method is left to right!

Q: What if the numbers were in a different order?

The rule stays the same! Whether it's $ 20 + 53 - 6 $ or $ 6 - 20 + 53 $, always work left to right for addition and subtraction operations.

Order of Operations with Mixed Addition and Subtraction

Solve:

$53 + 6 - 20$

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Understand the problem

Solve:

$53 + 6 - 20$

Step-by-step solution

First, perform the addition: $53 + 6 = 59$

Next, perform the subtraction: $59 - 20 = 39$

Final Answer

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Rule: Work from left to right with addition and subtraction
Technique: First calculate 53 + 6 = 59, then 59 - 20
Check: Verify by working backwards: 39 + 20 = 59, then 59 - 6 = 53 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Doing subtraction before addition
Don't calculate 6 - 20 = -14 first, then 53 + (-14) = 39! This happens when students think subtraction comes before addition. Always work 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 instead of doing addition first?

Addition and subtraction have equal priority in order of operations! When operations have the same level, you must work from left to right. This is different from multiplication/division coming before addition/subtraction.

What if I accidentally did the subtraction first?

You might get the right answer by accident, but it's the wrong method! For example, if you calculated $6 - 20 = -14$ first, then $53 + (-14) = 39$ , you got lucky. Always follow proper order.

Is there a faster way to solve this?

You could think of it as $53 + 6 - 20 = 53 + (6 - 20) = 53 + (-14) = 39$ , but this requires understanding negative numbers. The safest method is left to right!

How do I check my work without a calculator?

Work backwards! Start with your answer 39, add back the 20 you subtracted: $39 + 20 = 59$ . Then subtract the 6 you added: $59 - 6 = 53$ . You should get back to where you started!

What if the numbers were in a different order?

The rule stays the same! Whether it's $20 + 53 - 6$ or $6 - 20 + 53$ , always work left to right for addition and subtraction operations.

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