Simplify the expression below using order of operations.

open square bracket, left parenthesis, minus, 4, plus, 2, right parenthesis, minus, left parenthesis, 7, to the power 1 , plus, 5, right parenthesis, close square bracket, minus, left parenthesis, minus, 5, right parenthesis, minus, 5
[(−4+2)−(7
1
+5)]−(−5)−5

1 answer

To simplify the expression \([(−4 + 2) − (7^1 + 5)] − (−5) − 5\), we'll use the order of operations (parentheses, exponents, multiplication and division (from left to right), addition and subtraction (from left to right)).

  1. Start with the expression: \[ [(−4 + 2) − (7^1 + 5)] − (−5) − 5 \]

  2. Calculate \(−4 + 2\): \[ −4 + 2 = −2 \]

  3. Calculate \(7^1 + 5\): \[ 7^1 = 7 \quad \text{so} \quad 7 + 5 = 12 \]

  4. Substitute back into the expression: \[ [−2 − 12] − (−5) − 5 \]

  5. Now simplify inside the brackets: \[ −2 − 12 = −14 \]

  6. Substitute back: \[ [−14] − (−5) − 5 \]

  7. Now handle the negative: \[ −14 + 5 − 5 \]

  8. Combine \(−14 + 5\): \[ −14 + 5 = −9 \]

  9. Finally, subtract \(5\): \[ −9 − 5 = −14 \]

Thus, the simplified expression is: \[ \boxed{−14} \]