(upbeat music) Good morning, my magnificent mathematicians.

I am super excited to be with you this morning.

We are going to have so much fun today learning more about math and growing our brains.

Today I want us to look at a few math problems and talk about priority.

Sometimes math problems have several steps involved and it is critical that we know which part to do first.

Now, luckily for us, it's easy to find the first step.

Do you know what to look for?

Parentheses.

We always work from the inside out with math problems.

So if there's a set of parentheses in the problem, that is your big clue that you should do that part first.

Okay, this might seem a little silly, but here's what I picture when there are parentheses in a math problem.

I think about those parentheses like the handles of a silver platter.

And on that platter is the part of the math problem that I should focus on first.

Hey, whatever works, right?

Girl: Yeah.

Let's think about an example.

Two times parentheses eight plus seven.

So eight plus seven is sitting on that silver platter which means that's the part of the problem that we solve first.

Eight plus seven equals 15, and now we can work the rest of the problem.

Two times 15 equals 30.

Okay, now I have my awesome daughter Halley here with me today.

And I heard that you and Frisbee have some sort of challenge going on.

Is that right?

Halley: Yes.

(Frisbee groaning) Oh.

Hello, Frisbee.

Oh, hello, Ms. Post.

You are correct.

I have challenged Halley to solve three math problems, and if she gets them right, there will be a code to this here lockbox.

And inside the lock box is a surprise.

Wow, that sounds like so much fun.

Halley, do you accept Frisbee's challenge?

Of course.

I am totally going to solve these problems and win the surprise.

Frisbee, it better be something good in here.

(Frisbee gasps) Good?

Oh.

Oh, you have no idea.

It is something phenomenal.

Super unforgettable, barktacular.

Several other adjectives that I don't know off the top of my head, but it will definitely be a surprise.

Well, we are excited.

Okay, Halley, we have three math problems to solve.

I'm actually going to write the problems for you as you work them.

Now I'm going to ask you to confirm your final answer.

If your answer is correct, you will hear ding, ding, ding.

(bell) If your answer is wrong, you'll hear bonk.

(buzzer sounds) The code will be the first digit of each number.

So the number in the tens place.

Are you ready?

Halley: Yes.

Susanna: Let's get started.

Frisbee: Let's get started, everyone.

Oh wow.

Okay, so these problems look pretty tricky, but they're actually super easy.

So, again, we're going to do parentheses first, which is three plus seven.

Now, that's pretty easy.

We know that three plus seven is ten.

So we're going to bring that ten down.

Frisbee: Yes.

And then we're going to multiply that by two, which is 20.

Frisbee: Yeah, you did it.

That's the first one.

Is this your final answer?

Halley: Yes.

Susanna and Frisbee: Ding, ding, ding.

(bell rings) All right, next problem.

Halley: Okay.

The next problem in parentheses is eight plus three.

Eight plus three is 11.

We're going to bring down the six times 11, which is 66.

Is this your final answer?

Halley: Yep.

Susanna and Frisbee: Ding, ding, ding.

(bell rings) Frisbee: Wow, you're halfway there.

Halley: Yeah.

Okay.

So the last one has two in parentheses, and you might think there's a specific one you have to do first, but there really isn't.

You can do any one.

I'm going to do five times three, which is 15.

Now you're going to bring down the three times ten, which is 30.

Add those.

And you're going to get 45.

Frisbee: (gasps) Susanna: Is 45 your final answer?

Halley: Yes.

Susanna and Frisbee: Ding, ding.

(bell rings) Frisbee: Oh, wow, you did it, Halley.

Congratulations.

Susanna: Okay, so your lockbox code should be 264.

Frisbee: Open it.

What's in the box?

What's in the box?

I know what's in the box.

Frisbee: (gasps) Susanna: What is it?

Frisbee: What's in the box?

What's in the box?

Halley: Um, Frisbee.

My surprise is your stuff.

Well, yeah, I did tell you it would be phenomenal.

Spectacular, superb, and also a surprise.

Plus, all those things are great.

First, you need a fish because it has lots of protein, and that shoe is perfectly good.

Susanna: I told you to quit chewing on shoes.

Frisbee: I wasn't chewing on a shoe.

I'm pretty sure the mate is around here somewhere.

I think that's the right one.

We can find the left one together.

Halley: Yeah.

Frisbee, phenomenal would have been a lock box full of my stuff.

Well, but maybe it's more of our surprise.

After all, you will get to play with your favorite dog.

You know, that actually sounds pretty good.

Okay, well, you two have a blast.

I know you will, whatever you do.

And I hope you all have a great day today too.

Thank you for joining us on Rise and Shine.

And I hope my silver platter idea comes to mind the next time you're working a math problem with groupings.

We'll see you all later.

Bye.

(bass music)