Order of Operations

September 20, 2005

Dear Student,

The Order of Operations is not one of the hardest, nor is it one of the easiest things that you will have to learn in Algebra and other mathematical classes. To begin in learning the Order of Operations, you must follow the steps, hence the “order” of the operation. To start off, the first step would be to do anything that is inside of grouping symbols ([ ], ( ), { }). Next you would have to do powers from the left to the right (9 squared). Following the Order of Operations, the next phase of a problem would be to do all of the multiplication and division from the left to the right (*, /). The final stage in the Order of Operations is to do all of the addition and subtraction from the left to the right (+, -). Now, you just have to finish by putting it altogether and finding the answer.

Example-

3*6(35-3+5)10squared

1) First do

anything inside 3*6*37*10squared

grouping symbols.

2) Next you do powers 3*6*37*100

from left to right.

3) Now multiplication 66,600

and division from the

left to the right.

4) Lastly you would do

addition and subtraction

but this problem doesn’t

have any.

Above is an example of how the Order of Operations works. It should always be done this way. An example of someone doing it the wrong way is below: