Example

Translating 'five times the sum of mm and nn' versus 'the sum of five times mm and nn'

When a phrase contains multiple operation keywords, the order and grouping of the words determine whether parentheses are needed:

(a) "Five times the sum of mm and nn": The word times signals multiplication and sum signals addition. Because multiplication applies to the entire sum, parentheses must enclose m+nm + n so that addition is performed first: 5(m+n)5(m + n). Without parentheses, only mm would be multiplied by 5{5}.

(b) "The sum of five times mm and nn": Here, sum is the main operation and the words of and and identify what is being added: "five times mm" (which is 5m5m) and nn. No parentheses are needed because multiplication is performed before addition by the standard order of operations: 5m+n5m + n.

Although both phrases use the same words (five, times, sum, mm, nn), rearranging those words produces two different expressions—5(m+n)5(m+n) versus 5m+n5m + n—highlighting the importance of reading carefully for structure.

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Updated 2026-04-21

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