Basic Operations

There are four basic operations:

+ (addition) . . . . . . . . . . . . .as in 6 + 2 = 8; the sum of 6 and 2 is 8.

– (subtraction) . . . . . . . . . . .as in 6 – 2 = 4; the difference of 6 and 2 is 4.

×, or ·, or * (multiplication). as in 6 * 2 = 12; the product of 6 and 2 is 12.

/, or ÷ (division) . . . . . . . . . as in 6 / 2 = 3; the quotient of 6 and 2 is 3.

You use parentheses ( ) for grouping and sometimes multiplication.

Examples:

20 – 12 – 7 = 8 – 7 = 1 . . while

20 – (12 – 7) = 20 – 5 = 15

Also, (3 + 4)(6 – 2)

= (7)(4)

= 7 × 4

= 28,

while

3 + (4)(6) – 2

= 3 + 24 – 2

= 27 – 2

= 25.