1. The problem asks to fill the boxes with operations (+, -, \times, \div) to satisfy the given equalities. 2. For part (a): $4 \ \square \ 4 \ \square \ 4 \ \square \ 4 = 60$. Try different combinations: - One solution is $4 \times 4 + 4 \times 4$. Step by step: - $4 \times 4 = 16$ - Another $4 \times 4 = 16$ - Sum: $16 + 16 = 32$ (too low) Try $4 + 4 + 4 \times 4$: - $4 + 4 = 8$ - $8 + 4 \times 4 = 8 + 16 = 24$ (too low) Try $4 \times 4 \times 4 - 4$: - $4 \times 4 = 16$ - $16 \times 4 = 64$ - $64 - 4 = 60$ (correct!) So the operations are $\times$, $\times$, $-$. 3. For part (b): $\square \ 12 \ \square \ (-3) \ \square \ 5 \ \square \ 6 = 14$ Try $12 - (-3) - 5 + 6$: - $12 - (-3) = 15$ - $15 - 5 = 10$ - $10 + 6 = 16$ (too high) Try $12 + (-3) \times 5 - 6$: - $(-3) \times 5 = -15$ - $12 + (-15) = -3$ - $-3 - 6 = -9$ (too low) Try $12 \div (-3) + 5 \times 6$: - $12 \div (-3) = -4$ - $5 \times 6 = 30$ - $-4 + 30 = 26$ (too high) Try $12 + (-3) + 5 + 6$: - $12 + (-3) = 9$ - $9 + 5 = 14$ - $14 + 6 = 20$ (too high) Try $12 + (-3) - 5 + 6$: - $12 + (-3) = 9$ - $9 - 5 = 4$ - $4 + 6 = 10$ (too low) Try $12 - (-3) \div 5 + 6$: - $(-3) \div 5 = -0.6$ - $12 - (-0.6) = 12 + 0.6 = 12.6$ - $12.6 + 6 = 18.6$ (too high) Try $12 - (-3) + 5 - 6$: - $12 - (-3) = 15$ - $15 + 5 = 20$ - $20 - 6 = 14$ (correct!) So the operations are $-$, $+$, $-$. Final answers: a) $4 \times 4 \times 4 - 4 = 60$ b) $12 - (-3) + 5 - 6 = 14$