Order of Operations

Order of Operations

Problem:	Evaluate the following arithmetic expression:  3 + 4 x 2
Solution:	Student 1       Student 2 3 + 4 x 2 3 + 4 x 2 = 7 x 2 = 3 + 8 = 14 = 11

It seems that each student interpreted the problem differently, resulting in two different answers. Student 1 performed the operation of addition first, then multiplication; whereas student 2 performed multiplication first, then addition. When performing arithmetic operations there can be only one correct answer. We need a set of rules in order to avoid this kind of confusion. Mathematicians have devised a standard order of operations for calculations involving more than one arithmetic operation.

Rule 1:	First perform any calculations inside parentheses.
Rule 2:	Next perform all multiplications and divisions, working from left to right.
Rule 3:	Lastly, perform all additions and subtractions, working from left to right.

The above problem was solved correctly by Student 2 since she followed Rules 2 and 3. Let's look at some examples of solving arithmetic expressions using these rules.

Example 1:	Evaluate each expression using the rules for order of operations.
Solution:	Order of Operations Expression Evaluation Operation 6 + 7 x 8 = 6 + 7 x 8 Multiplication = 6 + 56 Addition = 62   16 ÷ 8 - 2 = 16 ÷ 8 - 2 Division = 2 - 2 Subtraction = 0   (25 - 11) x 3 = (25 - 11) x 3 Parentheses = 14 x 3 Multiplication = 42

In Example 1, each problem involved only 2 operations. Let's look at some examples that involve more than two operations.

Example 2:	Evaluate 3 + 6 x (5 + 4) ÷ 3 - 7 using the order of operations.
Solution:	Step 1:   3 + 6 x (5 + 4) ÷ 3 - 7  =  3 + 6 x 9 ÷ 3 - 7 Parentheses Step 2:   3 + 6 x 9 ÷ 3 - 7  =  3 + 54 ÷ 3 - 7 Multiplication Step 3:   3 + 54 ÷ 3 - 7  =  3 + 18 - 7 Division Step 4:   3 + 18 - 7  =  21 - 7 Addition

                       

Step 5:

21 - 7

=

14

Subtraction

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Example 3:	Evaluate 9 - 5 ÷ (8 - 3) x 2 + 6 using the order of operations.
Solution:	Step 1:     9 - 5 ÷ (8 - 3) x 2 + 6  =  9 - 5 ÷ 5 x 2 + 6 Parentheses Step 2:   9 - 5 ÷ 5 x 2 + 6  =  9 - 1 x 2 + 6 Division Step 3:   9 - 1 x 2 + 6  =  9 - 2 + 6 Multiplication Step 4:   9 - 2 + 6  =  7 + 6 Subtraction Step 5:   7 + 6  =  13 Addition

In Examples 2 and 3, you will notice that multiplication and division were evaluated from left to right according to Rule 2. Similarly, addition and subtraction were evaluated from left to right, according to Rule 3.

When two or more operations occur inside a set of parentheses, these operations should be evaluated according to Rules 2 and 3. This is done in Example 4 below.

Example 4:	Evaluate 150 ÷ (6 + 3 x 8) - 5 using the order of operations.
Solution:	Step 1:   150 ÷ (6 + 3 x 8) - 5  =  150 ÷ (6 + 24) - 5 Multiplication inside Parentheses Step 2:   150 ÷ (6 + 24) - 5  =  150 ÷ 30 - 5 Addition inside Parentheses Step 3:   150 ÷ 30 - 5  =  5 - 5 Division Step 4:   5 - 5  =  0 Subtraction

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Example 5:   Evaluate the arithmetic expression below:   Solution:   This problem includes a fraction bar (also called a vinculum), which means we must divide the numerator by the denominator. However, we must first perform all calculations above and below the fraction bar BEFORE dividing.   Thus   Evaluating this expression, we get:   Example 6:   Write an arithmetic expression for this problem. Then evaluate the expression using the order of operations.   Mr. Smith charged Jill $32 for parts and $15 per hour for labor to repair her bicycle. If he spent 3 hours repairing her bike, how much does Jill owe him? Solution:   32 + 3 x 15   =   32 + 3 x 15    =   32 + 45 =   77   Jill owes Mr. Smith $77. Summary:   When evaluating arithmetic expressions, the order of operations is: Simplify all operations inside parentheses. Perform all multiplications and divisions, working from left to right. Perform all additions and subtractions, working from left to right. If a problem includes a fraction bar, perform all calculations above and below the fraction bar before dividing the numerator by the denominator.               http://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/vol7/order_operations.html