having trouble with a problem

[marcuk]

Hi,

New to this whole site, but what a great help. I'm working on some homework assignments and am having trouble with the following:

Evaluate:

-4*(-3)-((-2)^3-4)^2

I think my first step would be to work everything in the ( ) meaning the (-2)^3 then work that side of the equation and then work the other side of the equation, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Kim

 

[Denis]

Hint:
(-2)^3 = -8
-4*(-3) = 12
12 - (-8 - 4)^2
Can you finish it?

By the way, that's NOT an equation; can you tell us why?

 

[Loren]

You might want to google "order of operations".

 

[marcuk]

Denis,

Thanks for the help see below, would appreciate any feedback or direction:

12-(-8-4)^2
12-(-4)^2
12-16=
-4 ??

I am not sure why its not an equation

 

[Deleted member 4993]

Denis,

Thanks for the help see below, would appreciate any feedback or direction:

12-(-8-4)^2
12-(-4)^2 <<< Incorrect -8 - 4 = -12
12-16=
-4 ??

I am not sure why its not an equation

Equations have equal to sign.

so

x = y - 3 is an equation

but "y - 3" is not an equation - it is an expression.