MathVine

The key rule with order of operations is to follow PEMDAS. That means that you solve the sums in the following order:

First: Parenthesis - symbols like this ( ) that go around parts of an equation. Second: Exponents - symbols like this $^{2}$ that tell you how many times to multiply a number together. Third: Multiplication - represented by a symbol like this x Fourth: Division - represented by a symbol like this ÷ or / Fifth: Addition - represented by a symbol like this + Sixth: Subtraction - represented by a symbol like this -

So, if we take the following sum:

$2^{3} + 5 - (3 * 4) = ?$

We would use PEMDAS to work out that the first thing to solve is the sum in the parenthesis:

$2^{3} + 5 - (3 * 4) = ?$

$2^{3} + 5 - 12 = ?$

We then solve the exponent:

$2^{3} + 5 - 12 = ?$

($2^{3} = 8$)

$8 + 5 - 12 = ?$

We then do the addition:

$8 + 5 - 12 = ?$

$13 - 12 = ?$

And finally the subtraction:

$13-12 = ?$

$13-12 = 1$

If you have a sum that contains only addition and subtraction, you can solve this left to right.

If you have a sum that contains only multiplication and division, you can solve this left to right.