Order of Operations
By, Savni
Is PEMDAS really order of operations?
PEMDAS is the order of operations. PEMDAS stands for Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally. The P in Please stands for parentheses . The E in excuse stands for exponents. The M in my stands for multiplication. The D in dear stands for division, but you have to do the multiplication and division from left to right. The A in aunt stands for addition. The S in sally stands for subtraction, but just like the multiplication and division you have to do the addition and the subtraction from left to right. And there it is, PEMDAS.
The Pemdas Hopscotch
These are the steps of a little song to help you remember PEDMAS.
Parentheses!!
Parentheses
In a problem which has parentheses such as 7(5 x 4) - 9 you would do the problem inside of the parentheses first. So, in this problem you would do 5 x 4 which is 20. After that you would follow the rest of PEMDAS to finish solving the problem. Oh, and one more thing in some equations they give you parentheses when you actually don't need them. What I mean is in some equations there is only one operation used and they put in operations to confuse you well you can just simplify imagine they are not there, but only if they are the same operation.
Exponents!!
Exponents
Exponents are the little number on the top right hand corner of the regular number. So say your exponent is 3 to the power of 3. So, all you have to do is 3 x 3 x 3 which is 27. Same within the exponent was 3 to the power of 2. You would multiply 3 x 3 which is 9. After that you would finish what is left of the problem.
Multiplication and Division From Left to Right!!
Multiplication and Division From Left To Right
In a problem, after doing the parentheses and exponents you would is multiplication and division from left to right. And remember if you end up seeing this 3( in a problem that just means to multiply the number outside of the parentheses to the answer of the equation inside of the parentheses. So, if we have a problem like 3(8 x 4) - 4 + 3. You would first answer the equation inside of the parentheses which is 32. In this question there are no exponents so we skip that part. Then we have to do 32 x 3 which is 96. After that you would finish the rest of the problem, but if we came across a problem that says 3(8 x 4) 4 x 3. Then you would do parentheses that is 32 then you do it left to right.
Addition and Subtraction From Left to Right!!
Addition and Subtraction From Left To Right
Just like multiplication and division from left to right there is an addition and subtraction from left to right. Just like the multiplication and division you have to do the addition and subtraction from left to right. Subtraction was first then addition you would still have to do it from left to right.
Meet Aunt Sally
A Video That Will Help
This video will help you answer the short quiz below. If you don't really get PEMDAS this is a video for you, but if you understand PEMDAS you can still watch it. This is a very helpful video.
PEMDAS - D.Daniels - P.E.M.D.A.S - Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally - Order of Operations Song
A Quiz
This short little quiz will actually show you if you actually understand PEMDAS!. It is down below.
The Answer Key
Her is the answer key to to the quiz. But do not cheat!