| Order of
Operations |
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Vocabulary
Numerical Expression- the numbers and operations used together, using the same rules, enabling
everyone to get the same answer.
Order of Operation- the rules by which everyone follows to get the same answer.
Examples
| Problem: |
Evaluate the following arithmetic expression:
3 + 4 x 2
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 ![[IMAGE]](http://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/vol7/IMAGES/students1and2.gif)
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| Solution: |
| Student 1 |
|
|
|
Student 2
|
| 3 + 4 x 2 |
3 + 4 x 2 |
| = 7 x 2 |
= 3 + 8 |
| = 14 |
= 11 |
|
|
| It seems that each student interpreted the problem
differently, resulting
in two different answers. Student 1 performed the operation of addition
first, then multiplication; whereas student 2 performed multiplication
first, then addition. When performing
arithmetic operations
there can be only one correct answer. We need a set of rules in order to avoid this kind of confusion.
Mathematicians have devised a standard order of operations for calculations involving more than one arithmetic operation.
|
| Rule 1: |
First perform any calculations inside parentheses. |
| Rule 2: |
Next perform all multiplications and divisions, working from left to right. |
| Rule 3: |
Lastly, perform all additions and subtractions, working from left to right. |
The above problem was solved correctly by Student 2 since she followed Rules 2 and 3. Let's look at some examples
of solving arithmetic expressions using these rules.
| Example 1:
|
Evaluate each expression using the rules for order of operations.
|
|
| Solution:
|
| Order of Operations |
| Expression |
Evaluation |
Operation |
| 6 + 7 x 8 |
= 6 + 7 x 8 |
Multiplication |
| = 6 + 56 |
Addition |
| = 62 |
|
| 16 ÷ 8 - 2 |
= 16 ÷ 8 - 2 |
Division |
| = 2 - 2 |
Subtraction |
| = 0 |
|
| (25 - 11) x 3 |
= (25 - 11) x 3 |
Parentheses |
| = 14 x 3 |
Multiplication |
| = 42 |
|
|
| In Example 1, each problem involved only 2 operations. Let's look at some examples that involve more than
two operations. |
| Example 2: |
Evaluate 3 + 6 x (5 + 4) ÷ 3 - 7 using the order of operations. |
|
| Solution: |
| Step 1: |
3 + 6 x (5 + 4) ÷ 3 - 7 |
= |
3 + 6 x 9 ÷ 3 - 7 |
Parentheses |
| Step 2: |
3 + 6 x 9 ÷ 3 - 7 |
= |
3 + 54 ÷ 3 - 7 |
Multiplication |
| Step 3: |
3 + 54 ÷ 3 - 7 |
= |
3 + 18 - 7 |
Division |
| Step 4: |
3 + 18 - 7 |
= |
21 - 7 |
Addition | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| Step 5: |
21 - 7 |
= |
14 |
Subtraction |
| Example 3: |
Evaluate 9 - 5 ÷ (8 - 3) x 2 + 6 using the order of operations. |
|
| Solution: |
| Step 1: |
9 - 5 ÷ (8 - 3) x 2 + 6 |
= |
9 - 5 ÷ 5 x 2 + 6 |
Parentheses |
| Step 2: |
9 - 5 ÷ 5 x 2 + 6 |
= |
9 - 1 x 2 + 6 |
Division |
| Step 3: |
9 - 1 x 2 + 6 |
= |
9 - 2 + 6 |
Multiplication |
| Step 4: |
9 - 2 + 6 |
= |
7 + 6 |
Subtraction |
| Step 5: |
7 + 6 |
= |
13 |
Addition |
|
| In Examples 2 and 3, you will notice that multiplication and division were evaluated from left to right
according to Rule 2. Similarly, addition and subtraction were evaluated from left to right, according to Rule 3. |
| When two or more operations occur inside a set of parentheses, these operations should be evaluated according to
Rules 2 and 3. This is done in Example 4 below. |
| Example 4: |
Evaluate 150 ÷ (6 + 3 x 8) - 5 using the order of operations. |
|
| Solution: |
| Step 1: |
150 ÷ (6 + 3 x 8) - 5 |
= |
150 ÷ (6 + 24) - 5 |
Multiplication inside Parentheses |
| Step 2: |
150 ÷ (6 + 24) - 5 |
= |
150 ÷ 30 - 5 |
Addition inside Parentheses |
| Step 3: |
150 ÷ 30 - 5 |
= |
5 - 5 |
Division |
| Step 4: |
5 - 5 |
= |
0 |
Subtraction |
|
| Example 5: |
Evaluate the arithmetic expression below: |
|
 |
|
| Solution:
|
This problem includes a
fraction bar
(also called a vinculum), which means we must divide the numerator by the denominator. However, we must first
perform all calculations above and below the fraction bar BEFORE dividing.
|
|
| Thus |
 |
|
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Evaluating this expression, we get: |
|
 |
| Example 6:
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Write an arithmetic expression for this problem. Then evaluate the expression using the order of operations.
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Mr. Smith charged Jill $32 for parts and $15 per hour for labor to repair her bicycle. If
he spent 3 hours repairing her bike, how much does Jill owe him?
|
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| Solution: |
32 + 3 x 15 = 32 + 3 x 15
= 32 + 45 = 77
|
|
|
Jill owes Mr. Smith $77.
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| Summary: |
When evaluating arithmetic expressions, the order of operations is:
- Simplify all operations inside parentheses.
- Perform all multiplications and divisions, working from left to right.
- Perform all additions and subtractions, working from left to right.
|
|
If a problem includes a fraction bar, perform all calculations above and below
the fraction bar before dividing the numerator by the denominator.
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http://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/vol7/order_operations.html
VIDEO HELP:
https://www.khanacademy.org/math/pre-algebra/order-of-operations/order_of_operations/v/introduction-to-order-of-operations
http://www.mathplayground.com/howto_pemdas.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugUfZS8lXyk
