Arithmetic Grade Four

Lesson Forty-one: Parentheses

We can also work with two sets of parentheses at a time. Inspect this example: 

   ( 2 + 4 ) * ( 5 + 2 ) = 

   MEANS: Find the sums inside the parentheses separately first and
          then multiply them.

   6 * 7 = 42
Here's another example: 

   ( 8 - 2 ) * ( 7 - 4 )

   MEANS: Find the differences inside the parentheses separately first
          and then multiply them.

   6 * 3 = 18
Here's yet another example: 

   ( 4 + 2 ) * ( 7 - 4 )

   MEANS: Find the sum inside the first pair of parentheses
          and then find the difference inside the second
          pair of parentheses and then multiply these
          two numbers. 

   6 * 3 = 18
You get to try a few for yourself on the next page.

Continue to next page of lesson