Order of Operations Study Guide

What is Order of Operations?

The order of operations is a set of rules that tells you the correct sequence in which to perform operations in a mathematical expression. These rules ensure that everyone arrives at the same answer when evaluating an expression.

The Order of Operations

The order of operations is commonly remembered by the acronym PEMDAS:

Parentheses
Exponents
Multiplication and Division (from left to right)
Addition and Subtraction (from left to right)

Examples

Let's work through some examples to understand the order of operations:

Example 1

Simplify the expression: 2 + 3 * 4

According to the order of operations, we first perform the multiplication, then the addition.

2 + 3 * 4 = 2 + 12 = 14

Example 2

Simplify the expression: (5 - 2) * 3²

First, we perform the operations inside the parentheses, then the exponentiation, and finally the multiplication.

(5 - 2) * 3² = 3 * 9 = 27

Practice Problems

Now, it's time to practice! Try simplifying the following expressions using the order of operations:

a) 4 * (6 + 3)

b) 8 + 5 * 2²

c) (10 - 2) * 3 + 5

Conclusion

Understanding the order of operations is crucial for solving mathematical expressions accurately. By following the rules of PEMDAS, you can simplify expressions with confidence!