Evaluate the expression: 18 - (4 x 3).

To evaluate the expression 18 - (4 x 3), you need to follow the order of operations, often remembered by the acronym PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division (from left to right), Addition and Subtraction (from left to right)).

First, you tackle the operation inside the parentheses. Here, you have 4 multiplied by 3:

4 x 3 = 12.

Next, you substitute this result back into the expression, which now becomes:

18 - 12.

Finally, perform the subtraction:

18 - 12 = 6.

So, the value of the expression is 6, making this the correct answer. Understanding that you always perform multiplication first when it's inside parentheses helps clarify how to approach similar problems in the future.