Order of Operations for Middle School Math

In mathematics, the order of operations is crucial for solving expressions correctly. To remember the order, we often use the acronym PEMDAS:

• Parentheses
• Exponents
• Multiplication and Division (from left to right)
• Addition and Subt\fraction (from left to right)

Steps to Follow:

1. Parentheses: Solve anything inside parentheses first.
2. Exponents: Next, evaluate powers or square roots.
3. Multiplication and Division: From left to right, perform all multiplication and division.
4. Addition and Subtraction: Finally, proceed with addition and subtraction from left to right.

Example:

Evaluate the expression:

$$3 + 5 \times (2^{2} - 1)$$

Step 1: Solve inside the parentheses:

$$2^{2} - 1 = 4 - 1 = 3$$

Step 2: Replace the parentheses in the original expression:

$$3 + 5 \times 3$$

Step 3: Perform multiplication:

$$5 \times 3 = 15$$

Step 4: Finally, perform addition:

$$3 + 15 = 18$$

Thus, the result is 18.

Key Questions:

• What is the order of operations?
• Why is it important to follow the order of operations?
• Can you give an example where not following the order leads to a different result?

Keywords:

• Order of Operations
• PEMDAS
• Parentheses
• Exponents
• Multiplication
• Division
• Addition
• Subtraction