Evaluate each expression. See Example 5.12 + 3 • 4

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the operations in the expression: addition and multiplication.
2. Recall the order of operations, often remembered by the acronym PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division (from left to right), Addition and Subtraction (from left to right)).
3. According to PEMDAS, perform the multiplication before the addition.
4. Calculate the multiplication: \(3 \times 4\).
5. Add the result of the multiplication to 12.

Key Concepts

Order of Operations

The order of operations is a set of rules that dictates the sequence in which mathematical operations should be performed to ensure consistent results. The common acronym PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction) helps remember this order. In the expression given, multiplication must be performed before addition.

Multiplication

Multiplication is one of the four basic arithmetic operations, representing the repeated addition of a number. In the expression 3 • 4, multiplication indicates that 3 is added to itself 4 times, resulting in 12. Understanding how to perform multiplication accurately is essential for evaluating expressions correctly.

Addition

Addition is the arithmetic operation of combining two or more numbers to obtain a total. In the expression 12 + 12, after evaluating the multiplication, the result of the addition will yield the final answer. Mastery of addition is crucial for completing calculations in various mathematical contexts.