I know the answer and have seen the solution to this problem, just want to see how many others agree/disagree with the solution.

|4 - 8(3 - 12)| - |5 - 11|

70

emac0002 said:

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= |4 + 72| - |5 - 11|

= |76| - |-6|

= 76 - 6 = 70

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this is how I see it too

Are those supposed to be brackets or absolute value bars? If brackets, 82. If absolute value bars, 70.

70

70

They're absolute value and the answer is 70.

My question is why subtracting 8*(-9) is changed to adding -8*(-9)? No issue with the order of operations, just in how you read it. If it were as simple as 4 - 8, you wouldn't say what is 4 + -8 when reading the problem. Also, just the fact that the - is not right next to the number is why I don't understand why it's accepted to just change the sign to a negative, multiply, and then add instead of multiplying first and then subtracting.

Due to order of operations, the first minus hasn't happened yet so it's technically 4 - -72.

Because that's what subtraction is. It's addition with signed numbers.

Sorry for the stupid question. I was too sober when posting. Took me two beers before it became clear. Not sure what I was thinking when looking at it initially.

I even had a post typed to rebut mathguy when it finally clicked.

Finally killed all the dumb brain cells I guess.

https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=%7C4+-+8(3+-+12)%7C+-+%7C5+-+11%7C

70. Eff yeah, I still got it.

Threeve