Book 1A Chapter 2

(page 2.43 - 2.46)

Mixed Arithmetic Operations

of Directed Numbers
The rules of mixed operations
of directed numbers are similar
to those of positive numbers.
1. (a) Perform the operations inside the brackets first.

e.g. (–4 + 7) × (–2)

= (+3) × (–2) Perform first.
= –6
(b) If there are several sets of brackets in an
expression, start with the innermost one.

e.g. [(–5) – (–7)] ÷ (–2)

= (–5 + 7) ÷ (–2) Perform first.
= 2 ÷ (–2)
= –1
2. (a) Perform multiplication and division before
addition and subtraction.

e.g. (–6) + (–3) × (–4)

= (–6) + (+12) Perform first.
=6
2. (b) If an expression involves multiplication and
division only or involves addition and subtraction
only, perform the operations from left to right.

e.g. (–9) – (+4) – (–1)

= (–9 – 4) – (–1) Perform first.
= –13 + 1
= –12
 Calculate (–2) – (–5)  (+2).

(– – (–5) 
2) (+2)
= (–2) – [–(5  Perform multiplication
2)] first.
= (–2) – (–10)
= –2 + 10
=8
 Calculate [(–27) – (+8)]  (+7).

[(–27) –  (+7)
(+8)]
= (–27 –  (+7)
8) Perform operations
= (–35)  (+7) inside the square
= –(35  7) brackets first.

= –5
Follow-up Questions

Find the values of the following expressions.

(a) (–8) + (+6)  (–3) (b) 18  [(+2) 
(–3)]
(a) (–8) + (+6)  (–
Perform division first.
3)
= (–8) + [–(6 
3)]
= (–8) + (–2)
= –8 – 2
= –10
Follow-up Questions

Find the values of the following expressions.

(a) (–8) + (+6)  (–3) (b) 18  [(+2) 
(–3)]
(b) 18  [(+2)  (–
3)] Perform the operation
= 18  [–(2  inside the square
3)] brackets first.
= 18  (–6)
= –(18  6)
= –3