# How Can I Do This Expression in Bubble?

**URL:** <https://forum.bubble.io/t/how-can-i-do-this-expression-in-bubble/316497>\
**Category:** Questions\
**Created:** [April 6, 2024, 10:26pm UTC](https://forum.bubble.io/t/how-can-i-do-this-expression-in-bubble/316497 "2024-04-06T22:26:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sarsasparillaj](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/bubble/user_avatar/forum.bubble.io/sarsasparillaj/32/248392_2.png) [@sarsasparillaj](https://forum.bubble.io/u/sarsasparillaj)\
**Post date:** [April 6, 2024, 10:26pm UTC](https://forum.bubble.io/t/how-can-i-do-this-expression-in-bubble/316497/1 "2024-04-06T22:26:00Z")

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Hi,

I need to calculate x = y - (100-x)\*y in the expression box in bubble.

x and y are massive searches for data in my database.

I can’t control the parenthesis in the bubble expression box since they are generated automatically.

Does anyone know how I can do this? Specifically, I can’t make parenthesis to do the (100-x) part first, as I would in any other programming language, calculator, excel, etc.

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![mac2](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/bubble/user_avatar/forum.bubble.io/mac2/32/87215_2.png) [@mac2](https://forum.bubble.io/u/mac2)\
**Post date:** [April 6, 2024, 11:28pm UTC](https://forum.bubble.io/t/how-can-i-do-this-expression-in-bubble/316497/2 "2024-04-06T23:28:29Z")

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Maybe [this plugin](https://bubble.io/plugin/instant-calculator-1538676874252x714928228726997000) will help you

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**Author:** ![nico.dicagno](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/bubble/user_avatar/forum.bubble.io/nico.dicagno/32/207961_2.png) [@nico.dicagno](https://forum.bubble.io/u/nico.dicagno)\
**Post date:** [April 6, 2024, 11:36pm UTC](https://forum.bubble.io/t/how-can-i-do-this-expression-in-bubble/316497/3 "2024-04-06T23:36:02Z")

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Your equation simplifies down to x= -99y/(1+y).

The above is much easier to handle.

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**Author:** ![tylerboodman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/bubble/user_avatar/forum.bubble.io/tylerboodman/32/242142_2.png) [@tylerboodman](https://forum.bubble.io/u/tylerboodman)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2024, 12:35am UTC](https://forum.bubble.io/t/how-can-i-do-this-expression-in-bubble/316497/4 "2024-04-07T00:35:08Z")

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> [@sarsasparillaj](#):
>
> I can’t control the parenthesis in the bubble expression box since they are generated automatically.

Yes you can control where they are it’s just weird how they did it, you have to click More in the right spots to get what you want. And also build the expression in a certain order

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**Author:** ![nico.dicagno](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/bubble/user_avatar/forum.bubble.io/nico.dicagno/32/207961_2.png) [@nico.dicagno](https://forum.bubble.io/u/nico.dicagno)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2024, 12:27pm UTC](https://forum.bubble.io/t/how-can-i-do-this-expression-in-bubble/316497/5 "2024-04-07T12:27:54Z")

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I agree it’s not be the most straightforward or prettiest way to do it ( I imagine Bubble devs had some real weird technical limitations to deal with when developing parenthesis), but after you get used to it its absolutely great.  
The main thing I wish we could do is add a ‘more’ at the beginning of the dynamic expression.