Today's soundtrack is Adrenaline Mob: Omertà.
I'm continuing in Basic Math & Pre-Algebra for Dummies. I'm now on chapter 5, "Evaluating Arithmetic Expressions."
An equation is a series of numbers and symbols that gives you a problem and a solution (1+1=2); it tells you that two things are equal. An expression is the two or more parts that you put together to identify the problem (1+1); it makes up one side of an equation. An evaluation is the solution to the problem (2); it is the value that equals the other side of the equation. Evaluating an expression can also be called simplifying, solving, or finding the value of an expression. To break it down: "Evaluation allows you to take an expression containing more than one number and reduce it to a single number. Then you can make an equation, using an equals sign, to connect the expression and the number" (66).
When we have more than two parts to the problem, or if we are using noncommutative operations, we need to follow the order of operations to correctly evaluate the expression: Brackets, Exponents, Division and Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction (BEDMAS) - from left to right.
I learned that in nested parentheses, I need to solve the innermost part of the parenthetical expression first.
In my workbook's chapter 3, I learned that placing two brackets around a number gives me the absolute value of that number: |-7| = 7. Also, I can negate (change the value of) any number by putting a minus sign before it. -7 negated is --7 (+7). 7 negated is -7.
Ooh, ah-ah-ah-ah!