(32+13)

I think I have is a simpler method, Tenacious, although I like your use of FOIL. I start with order of operations. I remember the order using PEMDAS (Parenthesis, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction.)

Let's begin evaluating your problem:

(32 + 13) * (36 - 5)

First we do evrything in the parenthesis: 32 + 13 = 45 and 36 - 5 = 31. So now we have:

(45) * (31)

Multiplying these two numbers with a calculator, we get:

$${\mathtt{45}}{\mathtt{\,\times\,}}{\mathtt{31}} = {\mathtt{1\,395}}$$

(32+13)x(36-5)=

Would normally be written as (32+13)(36-5) as when brackets are back to back, as I have written it, means that the contents should be multiplied.

I will use the * symbol as a multiplication symbol to save any confusion with the letter x.

(32+13)(36-5)=

32*36+32*-5+13*36+13*-5=

1152-160+468-65=1395

I use the FOIL method. First from each bracket, Outside from each bracket, Inside from each bracket, Last from each bracket. It ensures that each term from one bracket is multiplied by each term from the other bracket. The order is not important but ensuring all are completed is.

Please bare in mind I am just a newbie so there may be more elegant solutions to this and I may be wrong, though I believe I have it correct.

Ah yes Mathematician, that's much simpler.

I forgot order of operations. I have had my head buried in algebraic factorising for the last few days and missed the obvious. Good to catch me out and make me think before just following the routine.

Thanks