Because if numerical expressions were simplified in any old order, then different orders would give different answers.
For example,
2+3*5 = 2 + 15 = 17
But if you did it as 2+3*5 = 5*5 = 25
The rules are there to ensure that the same everyone arrives at the same answer every time.
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order of operations
They both use PEMDAS or Order of Operation
When you replace the variable with a number and perform the operations, you evaluate an expression. This process involves substituting the numerical value for the variable and simplifying the expression according to the given operations. Evaluation is a fundamental concept in mathematics and is used to determine the value of the expression under specific conditions.
Numerical expressions solely include numbers, while algebraic expressions may contain a variable like x. An example of a numerical expression is 1+2 and an example of an algebraic expression is 2x+3y=0.
In the context of algebra, "4d" would typically be considered a numerical expression rather than a variable. A variable is typically a letter or symbol that represents an unknown quantity that can vary, while a numerical expression is a combination of numbers and mathematical operations. In this case, "4d" represents the product of the number 4 and the variable "d," making it a numerical expression.