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Order of Operations

Grades 4-7 · Concept Explainer

Key Points

  • ✓Parentheses first: Solve what's inside parentheses or brackets.
  • ✓Exponents next: Calculate any exponents (like 2 squared).
  • ✓Multiply and Divide: Do these from left to right.
  • ✓Add and Subtract: Do these from left to right.
  • ✓Remember PEMDAS (or BODMAS) to help you!

The order of operations is a set of rules that tells you the correct sequence to solve math problems. It's like a recipe for math! We use PEMDAS to remember the order: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division (from left to right), and Addition and Subtraction (from left to right). Following this order ensures everyone gets the same answer.

Worked Example

Solve: 2 + (5 x 3) - 4 / 2

  1. Step 1: Parentheses: 5 x 3 = 15. The problem becomes: 2 + 15 - 4 / 2
  2. Step 2: Division: 4 / 2 = 2. The problem becomes: 2 + 15 - 2
  3. Step 3: Addition: 2 + 15 = 17. The problem becomes: 17 - 2
  4. Step 4: Subtraction: 17 - 2 = 15

Answer: 15

Try It Yourself

1. Solve: 10 - 2 x 3

2. Solve: (4 + 6) / 2 + 1

3. Solve: 3 x (2 + 4)^2 / 9 - 1

Watch Out For These Mistakes

  • Forgetting the order and adding before multiplying.
  • Not doing multiplication and division (or addition and subtraction) from left to right.
  • Ignoring parentheses or brackets.