Chapter 4

Expressions and Equations

4 – 1 Order of Operations
OPERATIONS:

+ - × ÷ () ²
addition subtraction multiplication division parentheses exponents

3+4×6

Which one is correct?

3+4×6 3+4×6
=7×6 = 3 + 24
= 42 = 27

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 ORDER OF OPERATIONS
A set of rules to tell us which operations to solve first and which next, so
that everyone gets the same answer

Please
1. Parentheses / Brackets () Excuse
2. Exponents ² My
3. Multiplication / Division ×/÷ Dear
Left to Right
4. Addition / Subtraction +/- Aunt
Sally

3
3+4×6 Please
Excuse
3+4×6 My
= 3 + 24 Dear
Aunt
= 27
Sally

4
7 + (12 × 3) ÷ 6
7 + (12 × 3) ÷ 6
= 7 + 36 ÷ 6 Please
=7+6 Excuse
= 13 My
Left to Right
Dear
Aunt
3² - 3 + 8 Left to Right
Sally
3² - 3 + 8
=9-3+8
=6+8
= 14

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Examples and Exercises

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 4 -2 Translate Expressions
Key Concepts:
• Algebraic expression: The combination of constants and variables, connected
by signs of operations (+, -, ×, ÷)
• Constant: a fixed number which does not change. E.g.: 7, 3, 45
• Variable: a letter or symbol that represents a quantity which can change. E.g.:
a, p, x, k
• Equation: an algebraic expression which contains an = sign
Expression: x+3
Equation: x+3=0

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 Variables and Constants
x+3
Since x is a variable, it can have many different values.
Since 3 is a constant, it stays the same.

x x+3 You can write multiplication and division

When x = 1 expressions without using the symbols × or ÷
1 4
x+3
2 5
=1+3 Instead of: You can write:
3 6
=4 p×4 pˑ4 or p(4) or 4p
4 7
p
5 8 p÷5
5

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 Length (l)
Area of a rectangle (A) = l × w

Width (w)

l w A If width is fixed at 2, and length is changing:

1 2 2
2 3 6 Which of the two quantities is the constant?
3 2 6
4 2 8 Which is the variable?
5 2 10

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How to translate a word problem into an algebraic expression
Q. Bob has 4 apples, and Ted has twice as many apples as Bob. How many apples does Ted
have?

A: 4 × 2 = 8

If Bob has 5 apples, Ted has 5 × 2 = 10 apples

If Bob has n apples, Ted has n × 2 = 2n apples

What if n = 7? What if n = 12?

Q. The distance between North Carolina and Tennessee is 430 miles. Beth drove c miles from
NC to TN. How many more miles must she drive to reach TN?
• What is the constant?
A: Total distance: 430 • What is the variable?
Distance already travelled: c • Which operation must be used?
How many more miles to travel: 430 - c

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 Put together
Put together, How much Separate into
groups of
Action combine, sum, more or less, equal groups,
equal size,
total difference ratio, quotient
product
Operation Add Subtract Multiply Divide

Q. The Big Island of Hawaii has an area of 4028 mi². The next biggest island is Maui. Let m
represent the area of Maui. Write an expression for the ratio of the area of Maui to the Big
Island.
𝑚
A: m ÷ 4028 OR
4028
Q. Let s represent the number of senators that each of
the 50 states has in the US. Write an expression for the • What is the constant?
total number of senators. • What is the variable?
• Which operation must be used?
A: 50 × s OR 50s

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Examples and Exercises

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