Order of Operations

The order or operations is the order that you do a math problem in. If you do a math
problem in the wrong order, you’ll get the wrong answer. To remember the order of
operations, remember PEMDAS:

P — Parentheses: Do all the math that’s in parentheses or brackets.

E — Exponents: Simplify all the exponents.

MD — Multiplication and Division: Multiply and divide from left to right.

AS — Addition and Subtraction: Add and subtract from left to right.

Here are some examples:

Simplify 6 – 22

Simplify exponents before adding or subtracting.

6 – 22 = 6 – 4 = 2

Simplify 9 + (6 – 1)2

Simplify parentheses first and then exponents. Add and subtract last.

9 + (6 – 1)2 = 9 + 52 = 9 + 25 = 34

Simplify 9 · 5 + 3 · 6 ÷ 2

Do multiplication and division from left to right before addition and

subtraction.

9 · 5 + 3 · 6 ÷ 2 = 45 + 3 · 6 ÷ 2 = 45 + 18 ÷ 2 = 45 + 9 = 54

Simplify 8(6.2 + 2.1)

Do math that’s in parentheses before multiplying and dividing.

8(6.2 + 2.1) = 8(8.3) = 66.4

Simplify 2(4 + 1) + 3(2 + 1)

Do math that’s in parentheses before multiplying and dividing. Add and

subtract last.

2(4 + 1) + 3(2 + 1) = 2(5) + 3(3) = 10 + 9 = 19