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Order of Operations Help

Use PEMDAS / BODMAS to evaluate expressions with parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition and subtraction.

Work in this order: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division (left to right), then Addition and Subtraction (left to right). Multiplication does not always come before division; whichever comes first from the left goes first.

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Example problems & solutions

Q

Evaluate 3 + 4 × 2

A
  1. Multiplication comes before addition: 4 × 2 = 8.
  2. Then add: 3 + 8 = 11.

Answer: 11

Q

Evaluate (6 + 2) × 3²

A
  1. Parentheses first: 6 + 2 = 8.
  2. Exponents next: 3² = 9.
  3. Multiply: 8 × 9 = 72.

Answer: 72

Q

Evaluate 20 ÷ 4 × 5

A
  1. Division and multiplication have equal priority, so go left to right.
  2. 20 ÷ 4 = 5.
  3. 5 × 5 = 25.

Answer: 25

Q

Evaluate 18 − 6 ÷ 3 + 2³

A
  1. Exponents: 2³ = 8, giving 18 − 6 ÷ 3 + 8.
  2. Division: 6 ÷ 3 = 2, giving 18 − 2 + 8.
  3. Left to right: 18 − 2 = 16, then 16 + 8 = 24.

Answer: 24

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Frequently asked questions

What does PEMDAS stand for?

Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction. In the UK and elsewhere the same rule is called BODMAS or BIDMAS.

Does multiplication come before division?

No. Multiplication and division have the same priority and are done from left to right. The same goes for addition and subtraction.

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