(2) If there are any exponents in the equation, perform those calculations directly after
any parentheses, if there are any parentheses in the equation.
(3) Next, perform all multiplication and division required.
Always perform these
functions from left to right in the equation.
(4) Finally, perform any addition and subtraction required by the equation.
Again,
perform all addition and subtraction functions from left to right in the equation.
(5)
For example, perform the following equation using the mathematics hierarchy:
1 + (10 - 2) x 9 / 62 = x.
(a) According to the hierarchies of math, the first calculation to perform is the
calculation within the parentheses. The calculation performed is 10-2 which equals 8. The equation
now reads:
1 + 8 x 9 / 62 =x.
(b)
Next, perform the required exponential calculation. Six squared equals 36. The
equation now reads
1 + 8 x 9 / 36 = x.
(c) Now, perform the multiplication and division from left to right in the equation.
The first calculation should be 8 multiplied by 9. The equation now reads
1 + 72 / 36 = x.
(d) Perform the other multiplication/division function, which is 72 / 36 equals two.
The equation now reads
1 + 2 = x.
(e) The final calculation is addition/subtraction; one plus two equals three. Thus,
the solution to the equation 1 + (10 - 2) x 9 / 62 = x is 3.
(6) Solving for Unknown Variables. Now that we have discussed mathematical
hierarchies, we can solve equations for unknown variables. Given the following equation, solve for
variable "A":
(A + B)
X*Y=
-----------
C
Figure 1-2 shows the proper way to solve this problem:
Figure 1-3. Solving for unknowns.
Figure 1-2. Solving for unknowns.
QM5203
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