Solve the Number Sequence: 4-2+2-4 Step by Step

Q: Why can't I add all the positive numbers first, then subtract the negatives?

Because addition and subtraction have equal priority in order of operations! You must work left to right, not group by positive/negative signs. The sequence matters!

Q: What if I get confused keeping track of positive and negative signs?

Write each step clearly: $ 4-2=2 $, then $ 2+2=4 $, then $ 4-4=0 $. Taking it one operation at a time prevents sign errors.

Q: Can I use parentheses to make this easier?

You could write it as $ ((4-2)+2)-4 $ to show the order, but it's not necessary. The left-to-right rule already tells you the correct sequence!

Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:06 Let's solve this problem step by step.

00:09 We'll follow the order of operations from left to right.

00:14 Remember, solve the leftmost operation first each time.

00:19 And that, my friends, is how we find the solution!

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

1

Understand the problem

$4-2+2-4=$

2

Step-by-step solution

Given that we are referring to addition and subtraction exercises, we solve the exercise from left to right:

$4-2=2$

$2+2=4$

$4-4=0$

3

Final Answer

$0$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Order Rule: Evaluate addition and subtraction from left to right
Technique: Group consecutive operations: 4-2=2, then 2+2=4, finally 4-4=0
Check: Verify each step produces correct intermediate results leading to final answer ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Grouping positive and negative numbers separately
Don't group all positive numbers together and all negative numbers together = wrong order! This ignores the left-to-right rule and gives incorrect results like (4+2)-(2+4)=2. Always work from left to right following the given sequence.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

$74+32+6+4+4=\text{?}$

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why can't I add all the positive numbers first, then subtract the negatives?

+

Because addition and subtraction have equal priority in order of operations! You must work left to right, not group by positive/negative signs. The sequence matters!

What if I get confused keeping track of positive and negative signs?

+

Write each step clearly: $4-2=2$ , then $2+2=4$ , then $4-4=0$ . Taking it one operation at a time prevents sign errors.

How do I know when to stop calculating?

+

Stop when you've processed all numbers from left to right! In $4-2+2-4$ , you have 3 operations to complete before reaching your final answer.

Can I use parentheses to make this easier?

+

You could write it as $((4-2)+2)-4$ to show the order, but it's not necessary. The left-to-right rule already tells you the correct sequence!

What's the fastest way to check my work?

+

Work backwards! Start with your answer of 0, then reverse each operation: $0+4=4$ , $4-2=2$ , $2+2=4$ ✓

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Solve the Number Sequence: 4-2+2-4 Step by Step

Integer Operations with Mixed Signs

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