Tom and sonya were comparing their answers on a math problem. it was an order of operations problem, and they each had a different answer. tom had an answer of 11, and sonya had an answer of 104. which student correctly solved the order of operations problem given by the teacher? (5^2 +6)–(7•4)+8

Hey there!

Seeing that it's an order of operations problem, we can use our standard format of computing, PEMDAS. It stands for:

P- Parentheses
E- Exponents
M- Multiplication
D- Division
A- Addition
S- Subtraction

When we compute these problems, we must do it in this order. Therefore, when we do this problem, we start within the parentheses.

(5^2 +6)–(7•4)+8

Inside the parentheses, we have an exponent. Since it's second, we compute it first. 

(25 +6)–(7•4)+8

Next, we can simplify the multiplication problem in the other set of parentheses.

(25 +6)–(28)+8

Simplify first parentheses:

31 - 28 + 8

Subtract

3 + 8 = 

11

Notice how we subtracted first. That's because when we do PEMDAS, addition, and subtraction, along with multiplication and division, are on the same level- so you can do them in any order. This doesn't go for anything else though unless it's obviously commutative.

Hope this helps!

Hello!

The order of operations is PEMDAS or parenthesis, exponents, multiplication, division, addition subtraction.

So 5^2 is 25 + 6 is 31

7*4 is 28

31 - 28 = 3

and 3 + 8 is 11

Tom was right

Hope this helps!