The effect of parentheses

(Display Figure 3.)

When expressions containing terms that are grouped within matching parentheses are evaluated:

• The contents of the inner-most pair of parentheses are evaluated first.
• That pair of parentheses and its contents are replaced by the value that was produced.
• That value is used to evaluate the next inner-most pair of parentheses.

This process continues until all of the parentheses have been eliminated.

(Do you remember doing this in your high school algebra class?)