Integers with exponents
Work out brackets and exponents before any multiplying or dividing, and those before adding and subtracting.
A worked example
Evaluate (−4)² + 5 x (−9). The exponent gives 16, the product gives −45, so the answer is 16 − 45 = −29.
The mistake people actually make
(−3)⁴ is 81 but (−3)³ is −27: an odd power keeps the minus sign. When a division sits to the left of a multiplication, do the division first.