Understanding the Order of Operations | A Step-by-Step Guide to Simplify Math Expressions

order of opperations

The order of operations, also known as the “PEMDAS” acronym, is a set of rules that dictate the sequence in which mathematical operations should be performed in an expression or equation

The order of operations, also known as the “PEMDAS” acronym, is a set of rules that dictate the sequence in which mathematical operations should be performed in an expression or equation. The order of operations is essential to ensure that calculations are done accurately and consistently.

The acronym “PEMDAS” stands for:

1. Parentheses: Operations within parentheses or brackets should be performed first. Start by solving the innermost parentheses and work outward if there are nested parentheses.
2. Exponents: Next, evaluate any expressions involving exponents or powers. This includes squaring, cubing, or raising a number to any other power.
3. Multiplication and Division: After evaluating any exponents, perform multiplication and division operations from left to right in the expression. It is important to note that multiplication and division have equal precedence, so they should be performed in the order they appear in the expression.
4. Addition and Subtraction: Finally, carry out addition and subtraction operations from left to right. Similar to multiplication and division, addition and subtraction have equal precedence and should be performed in the order they appear in the expression.

Here’s an example to illustrate the order of operations:

Expression: 5 + 3 * 2 – (6 / 3)

1. Parentheses: Since there is only one set of parentheses, we evaluate 6 divided by 3, which equals 2.
Expression becomes: 5 + 3 * 2 – 2

2. Exponents: There are no exponents in this expression.

3. Multiplication and Division: Multiply 3 by 2, which results in 6.
Expression becomes: 5 + 6 – 2

4. Addition and Subtraction: Add 5 and 6, resulting in 11. Then, subtract 2 from 11, yielding a final result of 9.

So, the value of the given expression is 9, obtained by following the order of operations.

More Answers:
Understanding Arithmetic Sequences | Definition, Calculation, and Applications
Understanding Geometric Sequences | Definition, Formula, and Examples
Understanding the Set of Real Numbers | Properties, Notation, and Applications

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