It depends entirely on where you put the parentheses (). If they are not shown, then you follow the order that the digits are in, therefore the answer is 5:
5 + 2 = 7 x 2 = 14 - 9 = 5
With parenthses around the (2 x 2) part, the answer becomes zero:
5 + 4 - 9 = 0
.
"I told the doctor I broke my leg in two places. He told me to quit going to those places". - Henny Youngman
It depends entirely on where you put the parentheses (). If they are not shown, then you follow the order that the digits are in, therefore the answer is 5:
5 + 2 = 7 x 2 = 14 - 9 = 5
With parenthses around the (2 x 2) part, the answer becomes zero:
5 + 4 - 9 = 0
.
"I told the doctor I broke my leg in two places. He told me to quit going to those places". - Henny Youngman