Evaluate each expression. See Example 5. 12 + 3 • 4

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the mathematical operations in the expression: addition and multiplication in the expression \(12 + 3 \cdot 4\).
2. Recall the order of operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS), which states that multiplication should be performed before addition.
3. First, calculate the multiplication part: multiply 3 by 4, which is represented as \(3 \cdot 4\).
4. Next, add the result of the multiplication to 12, which is represented as \(12 + (3 \cdot 4)\).
5. Write the final expression after substitution and simplify step-by-step to get the evaluated result.

Key Concepts

Order of Operations

The order of operations is a set of rules that determines the sequence in which mathematical operations are performed. Multiplication and division are done before addition and subtraction. This ensures consistent and correct evaluation of expressions like 12 + 3 • 4.

Multiplication

Multiplication is a basic arithmetic operation that combines equal groups. In the expression 3 • 4, it means adding 3 four times or 4 three times, resulting in 12. Recognizing multiplication helps simplify parts of the expression before addition.

Addition

Addition is the arithmetic operation of combining two or more numbers to get their total. After performing multiplication, the result is added to 12 in the expression 12 + 3 • 4, completing the evaluation.