Problem 2: Calculate .
Answer: The answer is 9.
The problem is now simplified to .
The simplified problem contains two "side-by-side" parenthesis. You can simplify these on the same level: and
The simplified problem is simplified further when these numbers are substituted for the original "side-by-side" parenthesis: = which in turn can be simplified to .
Do you need more help? Please post your question on our S.O.S. Mathematics CyberBoard.
Author: Nancy Marcus