Lesson Fifty-five: Decimal Multiplication and Parentheses
Figure out the answers to these two problems:
.4 + .5 x .7 - .3 =
(.4 + .5) x (.7 - .3) =
Recall that parentheses make a big difference in how we solve problems. Also
recall that we perform multiplication before addition or subtraction. With
this in mind you will realize that in the first example we multiply .5 x .7
first and then add .4 and subtract .3. In the second example we add .4 + .5
and we subtract .7 - .3 and then we multiply this difference and the
previous sum.
.4 + .5 x .7 - .3 = .45
(.4 + .5) x (.7 - .3) = .36