How do you evaluate #\frac { [ 4^ { 2} + 4( - 9) ] } { [ - 2+ ( - 2) ] }#?

1 Answer
Dec 18, 2016

The final answer is 5.

Explanation:

First, you would solve the exponent, #4^2#, which is really just #4*4#, and that equals #16#. Now the equation is, #{16+4(-9)}/{-2+(-2)}#.

Then, you would solve #4*-9#, which equals #-36#. Now it is, #{16+(-36)}/{-2+(-2)}#.

Next, you would solve, #16+(-36)#, which is just #16-36#, and that would equal #-20#. The equation is now #(-20)/(-2+(-2))#.

Now it is time for the bottom, #-2+(-2)# is again just #-2-2#, and that equals #-4#. Now it is, #(-20)/(-4)#.

Finally, dividing a negative by a negative makes it positive, so it is #(20)/4#. Then, you would just divide #20# and #4# to get #5#.