Parentheses, Braces, and Brackets in Math

Parentheses, Braces, and Brackets in Math Youll come across many symbols in mathematics and arithmetic. In fact, the language of math is written in symbols, with some text inserted as needed for clarification. Three important- and related- symbols youll see often in math are parentheses, brackets, and braces. You will encounter parentheses, brackets, and braces frequently in  prealgebra  and  algebra, so its important to understand the specific uses  of  these symbols as you move into higher math. Using Parentheses ( ) Parentheses are used to group numbers or variables, or both. When you see a math problem containing parentheses, you need to use the order of operations to solve it. Take as an  example the problem: 9 - 5 à · (8 - 3) x 2 6 You must calculate the operation within the parentheses first, even if it is an operation that would normally come after the other operations in the problem. In this problem, the times and division operations would normally come before subtraction (minus), but since 8 - 3  falls within the parentheses, you would work this part of the problem first. Once youve taken care of the calculation that falls within the parentheses, you would remove them.  In this case (8  -  3) becomes 5, so you would solve the problem as follows: 9 - 5  Ãƒ ·Ã‚  (8 - 3) x 2 6 9 - 5 à · 5 x 2 6 9 - 1  x  2 6 9 - 2 6 7 6 13 Note that per the order of operations, you would work whats in the parentheses first, then calculate numbers with exponents, then multiply and/or divide, then add or subtract. Multiplication and division, as well as addition and subtraction, hold an equal place in the order of operations, so you work these from left to right. In the problem above, after taking care of the subtraction in the parentheses, you need to divide 5 by 5 first, yielding  1;  then multiply 1 by 2, yielding  2;  then subtract  2  from  9, yielding  7;  and then add  7 and  6, yielding a final answer of 13. Parentheses Can Also Mean Multiplication In the problem 3(2 5), the parentheses tell you to multiply. However, you wont multiply until you complete the operation inside the parentheses, 2 5, so you would solve the problem as follows: 3(2 5) 3(7) 21 Examples of Brackets [ ] Brackets are used after the parentheses to group numbers and variables as well. Typically, you would use the parentheses first, then brackets, followed by braces. Here is an example of a problem using brackets:   4 - 3[4 - 2(6 - 3)] à · 3 4 - 3[4 - 2(3)] à · 3 (Do the operation in the parentheses first; leave the parentheses.) 4 - 3[4 - 6] à · 3 (Do the operation in the brackets.) 4 - 3[-2] à · 3 (The bracket informs you to multiply the number within,   which is -3 x -2.) 4 6 à · 3 4 2 6 Examples of Braces { } Braces are also used to group numbers and variables. This example problem uses parentheses, brackets, and braces. Parentheses inside other parentheses (or brackets and braces) are also referred to as nested parentheses. Remember, when you have parentheses inside brackets and braces, or nested parentheses, always work from the inside out:   2{1 [4(2 1) 3]} 2{1 [4(3) 3]} 2{1 [12 3]} 2{1 [15]} 2{16} 32 Notes About Parentheses, Brackets, and Braces Parentheses, brackets, and braces are sometimes referred to as  round, square, and curly brackets, respectively. Braces are also used in sets, as in: {2, 3, 6, 8, 10...} When working with nested parentheses, the order will always be parentheses, brackets, braces, as follows: {[( )]}