Algebra

brian:

-3{[(-4-1)-(-6^0-2)-1]-1}±Sqrt(9)

okay Brian,
Just do it a bit at a time
-3{[(-4-1)-(-6^0-2)-1]-1}±Sqrt(9)

-4-1=-5 and sqrt(9)=3

-3{[(-5)-(-6^0-2)-1]-1}±3

Now, any non-zero number to the power of 0 = 1
but -6^0 could meant -1*6^0 (that is what my calculator would think) OR it could mean (-6)^0
You really need brackets to make the meaning clear.
I'm just going to choose one and for no particular reason I am going to choose (-6)^0
and (-6)^0 = 1

-3{[(-5)-(1-2)-1]-1}±3
1-2=-1
-3{[(-5)-(-1)-1]-1}±3
so now we have

-3{[ -5--1-1] -1} ± 3
-- = +

-3 {[ -5+1-1] -1} ± 3

-3 { -5-1} ± 3

-3 * -6 ± 3

+18 ± 3

= 18+3 or 18-3
= 21 or 15

Now remember if -6^0 was interpreted as -1*6^0, which it easily could be then the answer would be different.

-3{[(-4-1)-(-6^0-2)-1]-1}±Sqrt(9)

So you know the whole order of operations thing, right? PEMDAS
Parentheses
Exponents
Multiply
Divide
Add
Subtract

So start with the numbers in the parentheses:
(-4-1)= -5
(-6^0-2)= -1
this is because anything to the power of 0 equals 1.

Next, do the brackets, which are now simplified to:
[-5-(-1) -1]
= -5 + 1-1
= - 5

Now do the curly brackets:
{-5 - 1}
=-6

Then multiply it by -3
=18

The square root of 9 is + or - 3, so it would be:
18±3
=15 or 21

wow, melody's fast! she beat me to it:P