Question

Difficulty: MediumOrder of Operations and Number Properties

What is the value of the expression −24−6×∣2−2×3∣2−(−2)3\frac{-2^4 - 6 \times |2 - 2 \times 3|}{2 - (-2)^3} ?

Answer: -4

Answer

The value of the expression is −4-4.
Evaluating the expression step-by-step using order of operations (PEMDAS) yields −4-4. First, simplifying the absolute value ∣2−2×3∣|2 - 2 \times 3| gives 44. Next, the exponent −24-2^4 evaluates to −16-16, and the exponent (−2)3(-2)^3 in the denominator evaluates to −8-8. The numerator simplifies to −16−6(4)=−40-16 - 6(4) = -40, and the denominator simplifies to 2−(−8)=102 - (-8) = 10. Finally, division gives −40÷10=−4-40 \div 10 = -4.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Simplify the absolute value expression in the numerator
∣2−2×3∣=∣−4∣=4|2 - 2 \times 3| = |-4| = 4
By the order of operations, multiplication must be performed before subtraction inside the grouping symbols (absolute value).
2
Evaluate the exponential terms in the numerator and denominator
−24=−16-2^4 = -16 and (−2)3=−8(-2)^3 = -8
In the term −24-2^4, the negative sign is not grouped with the base, so it evaluates to −(2×2×2×2)=−16-(2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 2) = -16. In (−2)3(-2)^3, the base is negative, evaluating to (−2)×(−2)×(−2)=−8(-2) \times (-2) \times (-2) = -8.
3
Calculate the final values of the numerator and the denominator
Numerator = −40-40, Denominator = 1010
For the numerator, perform the multiplication before the subtraction: −16−(6×4)=−16−24=−40-16 - (6 \times 4) = -16 - 24 = -40. For the denominator, subtract the negative number: 2−(−8)=2+8=102 - (-8) = 2 + 8 = 10.
4
Divide the numerator by the denominator
−4-4
The quotient of −40-40 and 1010 is −4-4.

Key Concept

Order of operations (PEMDAS) containing exponents, absolute values, and signed numbers
Estimated Time:1m 15s
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