TEAS V practice question

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I was wondering if I could get some help.

The practice equation is 6 x (5 + 7) divided by 4 - 7 x 2 +3 x 3

according to the book you can go by PEMDAS to solve it correctly..parenthesis,exponents,multiplication,division,addition, and subtraction...following in that order you will correctly solve the problem.

When I follow PEMDAS I get the answer -5, the book says the answer is 13...the only way I can find to get 13 is at the end you have 18 - 14 + 9..if you disregard PEMDAS you would do subtraction first so...4 + 9 = 13..if you follow PEMDAS you would do addition first 18 - 23= -5 .....both answers are listed as possible answers on the practice test...but the book says the correct one is 13.

what am I missing here??? its driving me nuts!!!

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

:D ... i could not help to smile because i remember having the same issue you had when i was studying for the teas v. and i also got -5 and was going nuts :) .... someone explained it to me. my problem was solved (and yours will be too) by remembering the part in bold below:

parenthesis

exponents

multiplication and division from left to right

addition and subtraction from left to right

in the problem above, the multiplication and division were already in pemdas order, but when you got to the addition and subtraction it is not in pemdas order. i always thought it was addition first, then subtraction, (same with mult/div) but the rule is "from left to right" ... so in this instance you would have to start with the subtraction on left. hence how you get the answer of 13.

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:D ... i could not help to smile because i remember having the same issue you had when i was studying for the teas v. and i also got -5 and was going nuts :) .... someone explained it to me. my problem was solved (and yours will be too) by remembering the part in bold below:

parenthesis

exponents

multiplication and division from left to right

addition and subtraction from left to right

in the problem above, the multiplication and division were already in pemdas order, but when you got to the addition and subtraction it is not in pemdas order. i always thought it was addition first, then subtraction, (same with mult/div) but the rule is "from left to right" ... so in this instance you would have to start with the subtraction on left. hence how you get the answer of 13.

oh gees....something simple like that!! lol

thank you!!!! ive been doing this problem over and over...and somehow i kept going right over the left to right business. :rolleyes:

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.
oh gees....something simple like that!! LOL

THANK YOU!!!! ive been doing this problem over and over...and somehow I kept going right over the left to right business. :rolleyes:

Your welcome! :) You'll be surprised how much of an expert you feel remembering this on the real exam! Good luck with it! I did not find it that difficult at all. I was scoring 75 to 81 on the practice tests and got a 90 on the real one. Just study the sections for the questions you got wrong and you will be fine! :up:

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Your welcome! :) You'll be surprised how much of an expert you feel remembering this on the real exam! Good luck with it! I did not find it that difficult at all. I was scoring 75 to 81 on the practice tests and got a 90 on the real one. Just study the sections for the questions you got wrong and you will be fine! :up:

I took the first practice exam and got a 70% on it, so Im doing exactly as you suggested going over the sections that gave me the most problem.

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Am I stupid, lol, I am still not getting this either!

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

i tried to break it down in color ...

the equation: 6 x (5 + 7) divided by 4 - 7 x 2 + 3 x 3

change "divided by" to the division symbol: /

6 x (5 + 7) / 4 - 7 x 2 + 3 x 3

parenthesis:

6 x (5 + 7) / 4 - 7 x 2 + 3 x 3 =

6 x 12 / 4 - 7 x 2 + 3 x 3

exponents:

no exponents to convert in this equation.

multiplication & division left to right:

bracket only mult & div parts to make visually easier:

6 x 12 / 4 - 7 x 2 + 3 x 3 =

[6 x 12 / 4] - [7 x 2] + [3 x 3] =

[72 / 4] - 14 + 9 =

18 - 14 + 9

addition & subtraction left to right:

[18 - 14] + 9

4 + 9 = 13

i hope this helps!! :D

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Thank you so much!! I think I rush through math and don't pay attention to the PEMDAS. It's so habit forming to just go through it like you would most math problems :)!

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hi, can you please tell me which Teas V study/practice test guide you used? I am planning to take it in january. Thanks

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