Solve the Expression: 6+5-8 Step by Step

Q: Do I add first or subtract first in this problem?

Since addition and subtraction have the same priority, you work from left to right. So you add 6 + 5 = 11 first, then subtract 8 to get 3.

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

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

Q: What if there were parentheses in this problem?

Parentheses always come first! If you saw $ 6 + (5 - 8) $, you'd calculate $ 5 - 8 = -3 $ first, then $ 6 + (-3) = 3 $.

Basic Arithmetic with Mixed Operations

$6+5-8=\text{ ?}$

❤️ Continue Your Math Journey!

We have hundreds of course questions with personalized recommendations + Account 100% premium

Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

$6+5-8=\text{ ?}$

Step-by-step solution

Add first: $6 + 5 = 11$ .

Then, subtract: $11 - 8 = 3$ .

The correct answer is $3$ .

Final Answer

$3$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Rule: Follow the left-to-right order when no parentheses exist
Technique: Calculate $6 + 5 = 11$ first, then $11 - 8 = 3$
Check: Verify by working backwards: $3 + 8 = 11$ and $11 - 5 = 6$ ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Subtracting before adding in left-to-right expressions
Don't calculate 5 - 8 = -3 first and then add 6 = 3! This ignores the left-to-right rule and can lead to confusion with negative numbers. Always work from left to right when operations have the same priority.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

$$ 8 - 2 + 6 = $$

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Do I add first or subtract first in this problem?

Since addition and subtraction have the same priority, you work from left to right. So you add 6 + 5 = 11 first, then subtract 8 to get 3.

What if I accidentally did 6 + 5 - 8 = 6 + (-3) = 3?

You got lucky and still got the right answer! But this method (doing 5 - 8 first) is incorrect. It works here because of how numbers combine, but it will give wrong answers in other problems.

How can I remember to go left to right?

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

What if there were parentheses in this problem?

Parentheses always come first! If you saw $6 + (5 - 8)$ , you'd calculate $5 - 8 = -3$ first, then $6 + (-3) = 3$ .

Why do I need to check my work?

Checking catches simple arithmetic mistakes! You can verify by working backwards or by using a different method to solve the same problem.

🌟 Unlock Your Math Potential

Get unlimited access to all 18 Order of operations for beginners questions, detailed video solutions, and personalized progress tracking.

📹

Unlimited Video Solutions

Step-by-step explanations for every problem

📊

Progress Analytics

Track your mastery across all topics

🚫

Ad-Free Learning

Focus on math without distractions

No credit card required • Cancel anytime