Order of Operations
The order of operations is the order in which computations should be done to simplify an expression with multiple parts.
PEMDAS:
Step 1: Parentheses ( ) - Solve any computations within parentheses
Step 2: Exponents m2 - Solve any computations with exponents
Step 3: Multiplication and Division - Solve all multiplication and division operations from left to right (one at a time)
Step 4: Addition and Subtraction - Solve all addition and subtraction operations from left to right (one at a time)
The order of operations can be remembered with this phrase:
Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally
Step 2: Exponents m2 - Solve any computations with exponents
Step 3: Multiplication and Division - Solve all multiplication and division operations from left to right (one at a time)
Step 4: Addition and Subtraction - Solve all addition and subtraction operations from left to right (one at a time)
The order of operations can be remembered with this phrase:
Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally
Nested Parentheses:
Sometimes problems have more than one set of parentheses within them. When this happens, simplify the computations working from the inner most parentheses to the outer brackets.
Sample Problems:
