volume_mute
Division Before Multiplication – Left to Right
publish date: 1969/12/31 00:00:00 UTC
volume_mute
Evaluate (working strictly left to right): \(40 \div (-4) \cdot 5\)
Correct Answer
\(-50\)
Explanation
Division and multiplication have equal priority — work left to right:
- \(40 \div (-4) = -10\)
- \(-10 \cdot 5 = -50\)
Common mistake: multiplying first gives \(40 \div (-20) = -2\) — this is wrong!
Reference
Mathematics for college students