Simplifying Numerical Expressions

Learning Area: Mathematics I

Curriculum Year: First Year
Proponent/Writer: Jayson O. Daguro
School and Address: O’Donnell High School Annex
Sta. Juliana, Capas, Tarlac
Least Learned Skill: Simplifying Numerical Expressions with Grouping Symbols.

I. GUIDE CARD

OMG! What am I going to do with

this numbers? How could I
simplify this expression? Numbers
are enclosed with symbols. Am I
going to add them? Subtract them?
Multiply them? Divide them? lol!

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To obtain an accurate and simplified solution, it is important that some
rules be followed:

 Remove grouping symbols like ( ), [ ], and { } by simplifying

first the enclosed expressions, beginning from the innermost
pair.
 Simplify expressions with exponents.
 Perform all multiplication and division from left to right
whichever comes first.
 Perform all addition and subtraction from left to right.

Let us simplify the following examples:

a. 2 + 3[6 ÷ 2 + (8 x 5) ÷ 5] - 20
Solution:
2 + 3[6 ÷ 2 + (8 x 5) ÷ 5] - 20
= 2 + 3[3 + 40 ÷ 5] – 20
= 2 + 3[3 + 8] – 20
= 2 + 3[13] – 20
= 2 + 39 – 20
= 41 – 20
= 21

b. 15 ÷ 3 ∙ 32 – (5 + 22)
Solution:
15 ÷ 3 ∙ 32 – (5 + 22)
= 15 ÷ 3 ∙ 32 – 5 + 22
= 15 ÷ 3 ∙ 9 – 5 – 8
= 5 ∙ 9 – 13
= 45 – 13
= 32

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 II. Activity Card

A. Simplify the following numerical expressions

1. 16 – 4 + 8
2. 23 + 7 – 4
3. 7 + 18 – 20 – (-3)
4. 35 – (4 + 9)
5. 2 + (6 – 3) + 9
𝟑𝟓
6. 100 - 𝟓

7. 16 × 5 ÷ (12 – 7)
8. (45 + 7) ÷ (12 ÷ 3) + 9
𝟔 ×𝟐
9. 15 × 𝟑−𝟏

10. 24 ÷ 8 + 5 × 2

III. Assessment Card

A. Simplify each expression:

1. [(75 – 26) ÷ 7] + [4 × (84 ÷12)]

2. 5(2 + 3 + 4) – [(25 ÷ 5) + 16 – 5]

3. 15 × 4 + (20 ÷ 4) – (15 × 3) + 32

4. (7 + 15) ÷ (19 – 8) – [23(5 – 6)]

5. {62 + 7[6 – 2(10 ÷ 5) + 32 × 2]} ÷ 4

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 IV. Enrichment Card

A. Simplify the following expressions

1. [2 + 3(2) – 3 + 2(3)]

2. [5 – 3(-4) + 2(5 – 7)]

3. 4 + [(4 – 2)(3 + 1)] – 5

4. {[(10 - 22) ÷ 3] + [4 – 2(3) – 1(-4)]}

5. [15 + 2(-8)] – [23 + 4(5 – 8)]

B. Solve the following problems:

1. An electronically controlled printing machine can print 1600 lines in a minute. How
many lines can be printed by three of these machines in four hours of operations?

2. Three freshmen classes, consisting of 48 students each, are going to a field trip. If each
coaster can accommodate only 24 students, how many such coaster will be needed for the
trip?

3. Jess started a savings account with Php 800.00. How much must he deposit each week to
have a total of Php 2,000.00 at the end of 8 weeks?

V. Reference Card

To obtain an accurate and simplified solution, it is important that some rules be followed:

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  Remove grouping symbols like ( ), [ ], and { } by simplifying first the enclosed
expressions, beginning from the innermost pair.

 Simplify expressions with exponents.

 Perform all multiplication and division from left to right whichever comes first.

 Perform all addition and subtraction from left to right.

Elementary Algebra for First Year by Cecille M. De Leon and Julieta G. Bernabe. JTW
Corporation: Quezon City, 2002.

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