Evaluating the Expression: (-5)^2 - 2x(-9) + 6 using Order of Operations
When evaluating expressions that involve multiple operations, it's essential to follow the order of operations to ensure accuracy. The order of operations is a set of rules that dictates the sequence in which operations should be performed. The acronym PEMDAS is commonly used to remember the order of operations:
- Parentheses: Evaluate expressions inside parentheses first.
- Exponents: Evaluate any exponential expressions next.
- Multiplication and Division: Evaluate multiplication and division operations from left to right.
- Addition and Subtraction: Finally, evaluate any addition and subtraction operations from left to right.
Let's apply the order of operations to the given expression: (-5)^2 - 2x(-9) + 6.
Step 1: Evaluate Exponents
The expression contains an exponent, which is (-5)^2. To evaluate this, we raise -5 to the power of 2:
(-5)^2 = (-5) × (-5) = 25
So, the expression becomes:
25 - 2x(-9) + 6
Step 2: Evaluate Multiplication and Division
The expression contains a multiplication operation: 2x(-9). To evaluate this, we multiply 2 by -9:
2x(-9) = 2 × (-9) = -18
Now, the expression becomes:
25 - (-18) + 6
Step 3: Evaluate Addition and Subtraction
Finally, we evaluate the addition and subtraction operations from left to right:
25 - (-18) = 25 + 18 = 43 43 + 6 = 49
Therefore, the final result of the expression (-5)^2 - 2x(-9) + 6 is:
49
By following the order of operations, we ensured that the expression was evaluated correctly and accurately.