In Math in Order, we learnt about the order of operations we used to simplify expressions.
Step 1: Do operations inside grouping symbols such as parentheses (...), brackets [...] and braces {...}.
Step 2: Do multiplication (including powers) and division (including roots) going from left to right.
Step 3: Do addition and subtraction going from left to right.
We use this order in all kinds of questions, including questions that involve algebra and fractions. Remember that in fractions the numerator and denominator are in unwritten brackets, so we simplify these first.
Examples
Question 1
Simplify: $4x-4\left(7x+6x\right)$4x−4(7x+6x)
Question 2
Simplify the expression:
$\frac{-4x}{-7x+5x}$−4x−7x+5x
Question 3
Simplify: $\frac{8x+\left(-8\times4x\right)}{9x}$8x+(−8×4x)9x
Question 4
Simplify: $\frac{7x^9+5x^9}{10x^2+14x^2}$7x9+5x910x2+14x2