Evaluating Expressions

  • The key for subtraction is different from the key to show the negative of a number. Never begin an expression with a subtraction symbol.

  •  Any expression using <, >, =, is evaluated as either “true” = 1 or “false” = 0

  • The same order of operations is observed as in algebra, namely

1. Expressions in parentheses are evaluated starting with the innermost parentheses.

2. Power and roots are performed in left to right order.

3. Multiplication and division are performed in left to right order.

4. Addition and subtraction are performed in left to right order.

 

Examples

      15  

   2 + 3

type

15/(2+3)

Note: Parentheses are needed since the fraction bar has lost its grouping property when the expression was written on one line.

2+8

8-3

type (2+8)/(8-3)

63+1

type

6^(3+1)

6>4+3

type

6>4+3

Notes: arithmetic operations are performed before logical operations so parentheses are not needed. Also note that this returns 0 or FALSE. More info.

(-2)(3)(5)

type

-2*3*5 or (-2)(3)(5)

Be sure to use the (-) key for the negative sign.

  8   

3(2)

type 8/(3*2)

2 of 5

3

 

type 2*5/3  or 2/3*5