A single number enclosed in brackets, such as (-5), indicates a negative integer. Brackets are also used according to the order of operations (BODMAS/PEMDAS) to group calculations.
Brackets Indicating Negative Integers
When you see a number within brackets preceded by a minus sign, it signifies a negative value. For instance:
(-3)means negative three.(-10)means negative ten.
This notation is commonly used in arithmetic and algebra to clearly distinguish negative numbers, especially when they're part of an expression.
Brackets in Order of Operations (BODMAS/PEMDAS)
In more complex mathematical expressions, brackets dictate the order in which operations are performed. The acronyms BODMAS (Brackets, Orders, Division/Multiplication, Addition/Subtraction) and PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction) serve as guidelines. Brackets/Parentheses come first. For example:
12 + (-8 - 2)
Here's how to solve it:
- Brackets First: Solve the operation inside the brackets:
(-8 - 2) = -10 - Addition: Substitute the result back into the equation:
12 + (-10) - Solve:
12 + (-10) = 2
Summary
Essentially, brackets around a single integer represent a negative number, while brackets surrounding an expression indicate the order of operations that should be performed first. Understanding both roles of brackets is crucial for accurate calculations in mathematics.
