Arithmetic Grade Four

Lesson Forty-one: Parentheses

When you see parentheses in an arithmetic problem, they mean "Do the stuff in the parentheses first." For instance: 

   6 * ( 5 + 2 ) = 

   MEANS: add 5 + 2 and then multiply that sum by 6.

   6 * 7 = 42

   (If you were to multiply the 5 and 6 first and then
    add 2, you would get 32... a totally different answer.)
Here's another example: 

   ( 8 - 2 ) * 3 

   MEANS: subtract 8 and 2 and then multiply that difference 
          by 3.

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

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