Subtracting Whole Numbers with Subtraction in Parentheses

Subtraction of whole numbers with subtractions in parentheses refers to a situation where we perform the mathematical operation of subtraction on the difference of some terms that are in parentheses.

For example:

$12 - (3-2) =$

One way to solve this exercise will be to distribute the parentheses. To do this, we must remember that according to the law of signs of addition/ subtraction, after removing parentheses, the expressions that were inside them change their sign.

C - Subtracting Whole Numbers with Subtraction in Parentheses

That is, in our example:

$12 - (3-2) =$

$12 - 3 + 2 =$

$9 + 2 = 11$

When distributing the parentheses, we will place a $-$ in front of the number $3$ and a $+$ before the $2$ .
As you can see, in both cases the sign that was inside the parentheses has switched to the opposite sign.

Another way to solve this exercise is to use the order of operations, that is to say:

$12 - (3-2) =$

We will start by solving the expression in parentheses by using the order of operations and we will get:

$12 - 1 = 11$

Detailed explanation

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$70:(14\times5)=$

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Exercises for subtracting whole numbers with subtraction in parentheses

Exercise 1

Task:

Solve the following exercise:

$-30-\left(\left(-41\right)-\left(\left(-4\right)-\left(-8\right)\right)\right)=$

Solution:

First we solve the innermost parentheses.

$-30-\left(\left(-41\right)-\left(\left(-4\right)+8\right)\right)=$

Order the expression in the innermost parentheses and solve it.

$-30-\left(\left(-41\right)-\left(8-4\right)\right)=$

$-30-\left(\left(-41\right)-4\right)=$

We break $41$ down into $2$ numbers to make the calculation easier.

$-30-\left(-40-1-4\right)=$

$-30-\left(-45\right)=$

We solve according to the rules.

$-30+45=$

$45-30=15$

Answer:

$15$

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Test your knowledge

Question 1

$$ 21:(30:10)= $$

Question 2

$$ 10:(10:5)= $$

Question 3

$15:(2\times5)=$ ?

Exercise 2

Task:

$17-\left(3-\left(-7-4\right)\right)=$

Solution:

First, we solve the innermost parentheses and break down $4$ into $2$ terms to make the calculation easier.

$17-\left(3-\left(-7-3-1\right)\right)=$

$17-\left(3-\left(-10-1\right)\right)=$

$17-\left(3-\left(-11\right)\right)=$

After solving the inner parentheses we continue solving the exercise that remains in parentheses.

$17-\left(3+11\right)=$

$17-14=$

We break down the expression to make the calculation easier.

$10+7-10-4=$

We solve the exercise in two parts.

$10-10=0$

$7-4=3$

Answer:

$3$

Exercise 3

Task:

$-58-\left(\left(-7\right)-\left(-12\right)\right)=$

Solution:

We solve the expression in parentheses, first reordering the minus and plus signs.

$-58-\left(-7+12\right)=$

Solve the expression in parentheses accordingly.

$-58-\left(12-7\right)=$

Solve according to the rules.

$-58-5=$

We break down $5$ into $2$ terms to make the calculation easier.

$-58-2-3=$

$-60-3=-63$

Answer:

$-63$

Do you know what the answer is?

Question 1

$$ 500:(2000:25)= $$

Question 2

$$ 100-(5+55)= $$

Question 3

$$ 87-(7+0)= $$

Exercise 4

Task:

$49-\left(53-18\right)=$

Solution:

First we start with the expression in parentheses and break down the $53$ into $2$ numbers to make the calculation easier.

$49-\left(58-5-18\right)=$

We solve the expression in parentheses and then solve accordingly.

$49-\left(58-18-5\right)=$

$49-\left(40-5\right)=$

$49-35=$

We break down the $49$ into $2$ numbers to make the calculation easier.

$45+4-35=$

We reorder the operations accordingly and solve.

$45-35+4=$

$10+4=14$

Answer:

$14$

Exercise 5

Task:

$37-\left(4-7\right)=$

Solution:

First we tackle the expression in parentheses and solve.

$37-\left(-3\right)=$

We reorder the minus and plus signs accordingly, and solve.

$37+3=40$

Answer:

$40$

Check your understanding

Question 1

$$ 2-(1+1)= $$

Question 2

$$ 19-(5+11)= $$

Question 3

$$ 26-(11-2)= $$

Review questions

What is the subtraction of whole numbers with subtraction in parentheses?

The parentheses are a grouping sign. As the name implies, they helps us to group operations where certain mathematical operations need to be performed. These parentheses indicate that the operations must be performed from the inside out, that is, first we must solve the operations that are inside the parentheses, in this case the subtraction, and then use that number in our subtraction operation.

What is the law of signs?

In order to be able to solve operations with parenthese, the law of signs for multiplication must be applied. This law can be seen as follows:

$+\times+=+$

$+\times-=-$

$-\times+=-$

Do you think you will be able to solve it?

Question 1

$$ 21-(6-13)= $$

Question 2

$18:(6\times3)=$

Question 3

$300:(5\times6)=$

How to solve with parentheses?

To solve an operation with parentheses, all we have to do is complete the operations from the inside out, that is, perform the operations that are inside the parentheses and then the operations outside the parentheses. In this case we will solve the subtractions that are inside the parentheses and then we use sign laws and perform the next operation.

How to eliminate parentheses in addition and subtraction?

In order to eliminate the parentheses in an addition or a subtraction expression, we first perform the operations that are inside the parentheses, and in this way the parentheses are eliminated, let's see some examples:

Example 1

Task:

$52-\left(25-11\right)=$

Solution:

We solve the subtraction inside the parentheses.

$52-\left(14\right)=$

We remove the parentheses by applying the law of signs.

$52-14=$

We break down the $14$ into two terms to make the calculations easier.

$52-12-2=40-2=38$

Answer:

$38$

Example 2

Task:

$36-\left(\left(-3\right)-\left(-8\right)\right)=$

Solution:

Eliminate the innermost parentheses using sign laws.

$36-\left(-3+8\right)=$

Solve the operations inside the parentheses.

$36-\left(8-3\right)=36-\left(5\right)$

Again we eliminate parentheses.

$36-5=31$

Answer:

$31$

Test your knowledge

Question 1

$$ 66:(360:60)= $$

Question 2

$$ 99:(33:10)= $$

Question 3

$70:(14\times5)=$

Examples with solutions for Subtracting Whole Numbers with Subtraction in Parentheses

Exercise #1

$15:(2\times5)=$ ?

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

First we need to apply the following formula:

$a:(b\times c)=a:b:c$

Therefore, we get:

$15:2:5=$

Now, let's rewrite the exercise as a fraction:

$\frac{\frac{15}{2}}{5}=$

Then we'll convert it to a multiplication of two fractions:

$\frac{15}{2}\times\frac{1}{5}=$

Finally, we multiply numerator by numerator and denominator by denominator, leaving us with:

$\frac{15}{10}=1\frac{5}{10}=1\frac{1}{2}$

Answer

$1\frac{1}{2}$

Exercise #2

$10:(10:5)=$

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the expression $10 : (10 : 5)$ , we will apply the order of operations systematically.

Step 1: Evaluate the inner division $10 : 5$ .
When we compute $10 : 5$ , we are finding how many times 5 fits into 10. This calculation can be expressed as:
$\frac{10}{5} = 2$ .

Step 2: Substitute the result from step 1 into the outer division.
Now, we substitute $10 : (10 : 5)$ with $10 : 2$ . Once again, we apply division:
$\frac{10}{2} = 5$ .

Therefore, the solution to the expression $10 : (10 : 5)$ is $5$ .

Answer

$5$

Exercise #3

$18:(6\times3)=$

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the expression $18 \div (6 \times 3)$ , we need to follow the order of operations, which specifies that multiplication should be performed before division. Therefore, we proceed as follows:

Step 1: Calculate the operation inside the parentheses: $(6 \times 3)$ .
We multiply $6$ by $3$ to get $18$ .
Step 2: Replace the multiplication expression in the original division: $18 \div 18$ .
Step 3: Perform the division: $18 \div 18 = 1$ .

Thus, the result of the expression $18 \div (6 \times 3)$ is $\mathbf{1}$ .

Answer

Exercise #4

$2-(1+1)=$

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the expression $2 - (1 + 1)$ , follow these steps:

First, evaluate the expression inside the parentheses: $1 + 1$ .
This gives $2$ .
Now replace the parentheses with this result, transforming the expression to $2 - 2$ .
The result of $2 - 2$ is $0$ .

Therefore, the solution to the expression is $0$ .

Answer

Exercise #5

$19-(5+11)=$

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the problem $19 - (5 + 11)$ , we will follow these steps:

Step 1: Evaluate the expression inside the parentheses. This means we need to calculate $5 + 11$ .
Step 2: Once the sum inside the parentheses is found, subtract this sum from 19.

Let's work through each step:

Step 1: Calculate $5 + 11$ which equals 16.

Step 2: Substitute 16 in place of $5 + 11$ in the original expression. You have $19 - 16$ .

Now, solve $19 - 16$ , which equals 3.

Therefore, the solution to the problem is $3$ .

Answer

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Subtracting Whole Numbers with Subtraction in Parentheses

Test yourself on additional arithmetic rules!

Exercises for subtracting whole numbers with subtraction in parentheses

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Exercise 5

Review questions

What is the subtraction of whole numbers with subtraction in parentheses?

What is the law of signs?

How to solve with parentheses?

How to eliminate parentheses in addition and subtraction?

Example 1

Example 2

Examples with solutions for Subtracting Whole Numbers with Subtraction in Parentheses

Exercise #1

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

Exercise #2

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

Exercise #3

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

Exercise #4

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

Exercise #5

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

More Questions

Additional Arithmetic Rules