A lot of people are having trouble with this math problem that requires some basic algebra

[teach1st]

58. I wrote from an elementary teacher's perspective

I posted from an elementary teacher's perspective. I should have realized that and noted it. My bad. The orders are important, especially in advanced math, but PEMDAS is not the way to introduce it in elementary. In fifth grade at least, it confuses kids who aren't mathematically sophisticated (which most fifth graders in my neck of the woods). It's more important to help them understand how the commutative and associative properties help. From my perspective as an elementary school teacher, complex equations should include parentheses.

From a higher math perspective, the equation in the OP is not written poorly. I think it is too much for fledgling mathematicians (and as we see on tons of like Facebook posts, many adults have difficulties with the orders). Understanding the orders is important and certainly prevents heavily bracketed and parenthesized sentences. But asking young students to translate without understanding why we're using the orders is not cool.

Thanks for a lively discussion! You are correct that the orders are important.