Simplification
Simplification is the process of making something simpler or easier to do or understand.
Look at the numerical expression below.
Can you find a way to solve it?
45 – (6 x 4 + 32) – 50 / (3 + 6)
To simplify a numerical expression with two or more operations, the BODMAS rule is followed. The letters of the word stand for the order of operations that need to be followed to complete the simplification process.
Know the order of preference as, —, ( ), { } and [ ], to remove (simplify) them from an expression.
In problems involving more than one bracket, the brackets should be removed in the order —, ( ), { } and [ ]. Removing brackets means simplifying expressions within the brackets to get the simplified form and then removing the pair of brackets.
We use the following rules to remove the brackets.
(i) If there is a plus ‘+’ sign before brackets, the brackets are removed without changing the sign of the number within brackets.
For example, + (2 – 5) = + (–3) = –3
(ii) If there is a minus ‘–’ sign before brackets, the brackets are removed and the sign of the number within brackets is changed.
For example, – (2 – 5) = – (–3) = 3
(iii) If there is a number before brackets, the number in the brackets left after simplification is multiplied by this number, and the brackets are removed.
For example, 4 (2 – 5) = 4 (–3) = –12
Also –5 (3 – 7) = –5 (–4) = + 20