1-2 The Order of Operations

Objective:
Use the order of operations and
grouping symbols.
In most languages, the meaning of
words depend on the order:

Ex.
Sign the check
Is not the same as

Check the sign

 Mathematics is a type of language
and it also has a specific order.
Oh no!
Ex. 3 + 5 X 2
What do we do first? Add or multiply?
If we add first: If we multiply first:
3+5X2 3+5X2
8X2 3 + 10
16 Help
! 13
Uh Oh! Which one is the correct answer?
What is PEMDAS?
In order to make sure every
person gets the same answer to a
math problem, mathematicians
came up with a rule called the
order of operations
Parenthesis ( ) [ ]
Exponents 23 Whichever comes
Multiplication X
Division ÷ first from left to right!
Addition + Whichever comes
Subtraction - first from left to right!
 How am I
supposed to
remember that!

a s e
Ple se
E x cu
My
D e ar
A u n t
Sally
Part 1 Using the Order of Operations

What do we do first? PEMDA

3 + 5 X 2 Multiply first S
3 + 10
Then add
13
To simplify an expression means to
replace the expression with the simplest
name for its value.
PEMDAS
Example 1:
Simplify 4 + 15 ÷ 3
4 + 15 ÷ 3
Divide first
4+5
9 Then add
 tr y!
yo u
N ow

Simplify each expression.

1) 2 + 5 X 3
2) 12 ÷ 3 - 1

3) 10 – 1 . 7
When operations have the same rank in the
order of operations, do them from left to
right.
PEMDAS m
Example 2 fr o
i d e
.
Simplify 3 5 – 8 ÷ 4 + 6 d i v
&
3 .5– 8÷ 4+ 6 l ti pl y
g h t
u
m to r i c t
t tr a
15 - 2 + 6 le f s u b t
d ig h
a n o r
d d eft t
13 + 6 a l
o m
fr
19
 s!
T hi
y
Tr Simplify each expression

4) 4 – 1 . 2 + 6 ÷ 3
5) 5 + 6 . 4 ÷ 3 - 1
 Part 2 Using grouping Symbols
Grouping symbols such as parenthesis
( ) and brackets [ ] come first in the
order of operations.
A fraction bar is also a grouping
symbol since:
4 + 2 = (4 + 2) ÷ 3
3
Always work inside grouping symbols first!
Order of Operations
1) Work inside grouping symbols.
2) Multiply and divide from left to right.

3) Add and subtract in order from left to

right.
Example 3
Simplify 10 ÷ [9 – (2 . 2)]. PEMDAS

10 ÷ [9 – (2 . 2)] Multiply in parenthesis.

10 ÷ [9 – 4] Subtract in brackets.

10 ÷ 5
Divide.
2