Solve the Arithmetic Equation: 90 - 2 + 9 - 8

Order of Operations with Mixed Addition and Subtraction

902+98= ? 90-2+9-8=\text{ ?}

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Solve the following expression
00:03 Proceed using the correct order of operations, from left to right
00:07 Each time solve one operation and then continue
00:12 Given that all operations are only addition/subtraction
00:16 We'll use the commutative law and solve this operation first
00:26 This is the solution

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

902+98= ? 90-2+9-8=\text{ ?}

2

Step-by-step solution

According to the order of operations, we will solve the exercise from left to right since the only operations in it are addition and subtraction:

902=88 90-2=88

88+9=97 88+9=97

978=89 97-8=89

3

Final Answer

89

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Rule: Addition and subtraction have equal precedence, work left to right
  • Technique: Calculate step by step: 90-2=88, then 88+9=97, then 97-8=89
  • Check: Verify by reworking: (90-2)+(9-8) = 88+1 = 89 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Grouping addition and subtraction separately
    Don't calculate (90+9)-(2+8) = 99-10 = 89! This changes the order and can give wrong answers in other problems. Always work left to right when operations have equal precedence.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

\( 8 - 2 + 6 = \)

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why can't I just add all the positive numbers and subtract all the negative numbers?

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While it works for this problem, it's not always correct! The order matters in arithmetic. For example, 10-8+2 ≠ (10+2)-8 in some contexts. Always follow left-to-right rule to build good habits.

What if I accidentally calculate 90+9-2-8 instead?

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You'd get 90+928=89 90+9-2-8 = 89 , which happens to be the same answer! But this rearrangement doesn't always work. Stick to the original order to avoid mistakes in trickier problems.

Is there a faster way to solve this?

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You could think of it as 90+(2)+9+(8) 90 + (-2) + 9 + (-8) and group: 90+9+(2)+(8)=9910=89 90 + 9 + (-2) + (-8) = 99 - 10 = 89 . But left-to-right is safer and more reliable!

How do I avoid making calculation errors?

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Write each step clearly:

  • Step 1: 902=88 90 - 2 = 88
  • Step 2: 88+9=97 88 + 9 = 97
  • Step 3: 978=89 97 - 8 = 89

Double-check each calculation before moving to the next step.

What's the most important rule to remember?

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When you have only addition and subtraction, work from left to right since they have equal precedence. This is different from multiplication and division, which come before addition and subtraction!

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