19
Order of Operations
The order of operations is a set of rules stating which operations in an equation are performed fi rst.
The order of operations is often stated using the acronym PEMDAS. PEMDAS stands for parentheses,
exponents, multiplication and division, and addition and subtraction. This means anything inside
parentheses is computed fi rst. Exponents are computed next. Then, any multiplication and division
operations are computed. Finally, any addition and subtraction operations are computed to fi nd the
answer to the problem. The equation is solved from left to right by applying PEMDAS.
Skills Workshop 3
See It
Working from left to right, use PEMDAS to solve the equation:
8.2 × (10 – 7)2 + 9 ÷ 3 =
Step 1: Solve the part of the equation inside parentheses (10 – 7 = 3).
Step 2: Solve the exponent (32 = 9).
Step 3: Solve the multiplication and division (8.2 × 9 = 73.8; 9 ÷ 3 = 3).
Step 4: Solve the addition and subtraction outside of parentheses (73.8 + 3 =
76.8).
Check It
1. (3.2 + 1.8)3 – 25 ÷ 5 =
2. 8 – (4 × 3) + 23 ÷ 2 =
3. 3 + 4.5 – 27 ÷ 9 =
4. 112 + (45 × 2) =
5. (2 × 4)2 – (21 – 18)2 =
6. 9 + 2 – 3 × 6 =
7. 48 ÷ 6 + 92 – (32)2 =
8. 2.5 + (9 ÷ 3)3 – 14 =
9. 88 × 2 – (9 + 1.85)2 =
10. 10.5 + 3.2 ÷ (18.97 – 19.65 + 2.68) =
1
5 + 8 ÷ 2 × (14 –5.3) – 23 = 31.8
2 3
4
6
5