Which of the following correctly orders the steps to solve the expression 8 + 4 × (2 + 3)?

To achieve the correct order for solving the expression 8 + 4 × (2 + 3), it is essential to follow the order of operations, often remembered by the acronym PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division (from left to right), Addition and Subtraction (from left to right)).

Starting with the parentheses, the expression inside them, (2 + 3), must be evaluated first. This gives us 5.

Next, we move to multiplication. The expression now reads 8 + 4 × 5. According to the order of operations, multiplication comes before addition. So we calculate 4 × 5, which equals 20.

Finally, we add 8 to 20, resulting in 28.

The correct sequence of operations is therefore to first solve what’s in the parentheses, followed by multiplication, and then perform addition, making it clear why the steps are ordered as Parentheses, Multiplication, Addition. This method is crucial in mathematical computations to ensure accurate results.