PEMDAS: Mastering the Order of Operations

Introduction to Order of Operations

The order of operations is a set of rules that defines the sequence in which mathematical operations should be performed. It's crucial for obtaining consistent and correct results in arithmetic calculations.

PEMDAS: The Rule

PEMDAS is an acronym that helps remember the order of operations:

• P: Parentheses
• E: Exponents
• M: Multiplication
• D: Division
• A: Addition
• S: Subtraction

Note: Multiplication and division have equal priority and are performed left to right. The same applies to addition and subtraction.

Applying PEMDAS

Let's solve an example step by step:

3 + 4 × 2² - (6 + 2) ÷ 2

Step 1 (P): 3 + 4 × 2² - 8 ÷ 2
Step 2 (E): 3 + 4 × 4 - 8 ÷ 2
Step 3 (M/D): 3 + 16 - 4
Step 4 (A/S): 19 - 4 = 15

Common Mistakes

• Performing operations from left to right without considering PEMDAS
• Misunderstanding the equal priority of multiplication and division
• Forgetting to evaluate expressions inside parentheses first