Simplify with Order of Operations

Order of Operations

P E M D A S

​Vocabulary

• ​Expression - representation of a quanitiy. Has no equal sign

• ​Operations - Add, subtract, multiply, divide

• Grouping symbols - parenthesis and brackets

• Simplify - means to solve

• Evaluate - means to solve

​What is the order of operations?

• ​The order of operations is the way to simplify expressions by performing operations in a specific order

• It helps us solve in a specific order so we all arrive at the same answer.

​Using the Order of Operations:

1. ​Solve anything inside of grouping symbols ( ) { } these are parenthesis and brackets

2. Solve for exponents

3. ​Going from left to right solve any multiplication and division, which ever comes first

4. ​Going from left to right solve any addition or subtraction, which ever comes first.

​So what does it look like to solve using the order of operations?

​ Let's take a look at this following expression.

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​

​

​Try to solve it yourself.

Poll

What did you get when you solved this? 

• 22

• 19

• I got a different answer

​So what happened?

​If you solve WITHOUT the order of operations, you would add and then multiply.

3 + 8 x 2

​11 x 2

​22

​

​If you solve WITH the order of operations you would multiply and then add.

​3 + 8 x 2

​3 + 16

​19

​

​X

​Let's look at an example:

​Simplify 4 + 3 x (4-2)

​Step 1: Are there parenthesis? Solve what is inside. 4 + 3 x (4-2)

​Step 2: What's next? Is there multiplication or division? 4 + 3 x 2

​Step 3: What's next? Is there additon or subtraction? 4 + 6

​Step 4: What is your answer? 10





P E M D A S