Can you check my work?

(4+16)- 20+7=
The answer is either 7 or -7?

4 + 16 = 20

20 + 7 = 27
27 - 20 = 7

The answer is 7...Always solve the numbers in the brackets first in any given equation. Then the 4+16 in the bracket will cancel out the -20 outside the bracket then you are left with 7!

To check your work, let's simplify the expression step by step:

Step 1: Simplify within parentheses.
(4 + 16) - 20 + 7 = 20 - 20 + 7

Step 2: Perform addition and subtraction from left to right.
20 - 20 + 7 = 0 + 7

Step 3: Perform addition.
0 + 7 = 7

So, based on the calculations, the expression (4 + 16) - 20 + 7 equals 7, not -7. Therefore, it seems there might have been a mistake in your original work.