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Chapter 1 · Numbers · page 6 of 68

Grouping symbols

levelPre-algebra
standard6.EE.A.2
practiceOrder of operations

Parentheses ( ), brackets [ ] and braces { } all mean the same thing: do this part first. The different shapes only help you see which opens with which when they nest.

How to use it

  1. Find the innermost pair and finish everything inside it.
  2. Replace it with its value and work outward.
  3. A fraction bar also groups: finish the top and the bottom before dividing.

Example

2−[5−(3+1)]=2−[5−4]=2−1=12 - [5 - (3 + 1)] = 2 - [5 - 4] = 2 - 1 = 1
6+42=102=5\frac{6 + 4}{2} = \frac{10}{2} = 5

Where it goes wrong

  • Multiplying by the number outside before finishing the inside.
  • Dropping a minus sign in front of a group when the group becomes a number.

Related

Order of operationsA negative outside parentheses
Practice this