First, let's begin by taking a look at the 6 steps to solving math problems.

• Step 1: Understand the problem, what is being asked in this problem? You are asked to find the correct value or answer to a given mathematical expression.
  
  
• Step 2: Now you need to analyze the information you are given. You have a long mathematical sentence for which you need to find an answer. In order to solve this one, you will need to know the correct order of operations.
  
  
• Step 3: It is time to make a plan to solve this one. You will only need to perform the operations asked for in the sentence, but you need to know which ones to do first, second, and so on. Do you remember the order of operations? See if this rings any bells, Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally. The first letters of each word in the sentence tells us what the order of operations is, parenthesis, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction. Remember now?
  
  
• Step 4: As you look over the expression you want to make an estimation of what the answer might or could be. Look over the problem and see if you can come up with an answer that might be close to being correct. Maybe you see an estimated answer of 50. That is fine, remember this is only an estimation to help keep focused on the answer you are after.
  
  
• Step 5: Next, you want to solve the problem using order of operations.
  9 + (12-3) x 4 - 2²
  9 + 9 x 4 - 2² (You did what was in the parenthesis first.)
  9 + 9 x 4 - 4 (Next, you take care of the exponent.)
  9 + 36 - 4 (Multiplication comes next.)
  45 - 4 (Addition is next.)
  41 (Your final answer.)
  
  
• Step 6: Now that you have an answer, check that answer and see if you get it a second time. Then check to see if it is one of your 4 choices for the question.

After looking over the 4 choices, you notice that choice C has the same answer, 41.

CHOICE C it is!