Question

2y-z
--------- for x=-3, y=13, z=5
x

Answer 1

what's the trouble? Plug and chug:

2(13)-5
---------
-3

= (26-5)/-3 = 21/-3 = -7

Answer 2

I thought that was the answer, but I wasn't sure if I should do the division first because of order of operations?

Answer 3

when you have two expressions forming a fraction, you have to consider each expression separately, then divide at the end. If written on a single line, the fraction would be

(2y-z)/x

and you'd evaluate the expression inside the parentheses first, then do the division.

Answer 4

Besides, if you wanted to divide first, what would you divide? How would you pick the part of the numerator to use?

Answer 5

You could rewrite the expression as

2y/x - z/x

then you could divide each term and do the subtraction at the end, but it would involve more work.

Answer 6

Thank you for the explanation. I thought you maybe did everything on top and then divided the bottom number, but that didn't seem right. Thanks a lot though!! You were great help! :)