Question

The order of operations is a set of rules used to find the value of expressions that include more than one operation.

Answer 1

Absolutely! The order of operations is crucial in mathematics to ensure that expressions are interpreted and calculated consistently. The standard order of operations can be remembered by the acronym PEMDAS, which stands for:

- **P**: Parentheses - Calculate expressions inside parentheses first.
- **E**: Exponents - Solve exponents (powers and square roots, etc.) next.
- **M**: Multiplication - Perform multiplication from left to right.
- **D**: Division - Perform division from left to right.
- **A**: Addition - Perform addition from left to right.
- **S**: Subtraction - Perform subtraction from left to right.

It's important to note that multiplication and division are of equal precedence; you perform them in order from left to right as they appear in the expression. The same applies to addition and subtraction.

For example, in the expression:

\[ 3 + 6 × (5 + 4) ÷ 3 - 7 \]

You would follow these steps:

1. Parentheses: Calculate \(5 + 4\) first.
2. Multiplication: Then, calculate \(6 × 9\).
3. Division: Next, divide the result by \(3\).
4. Addition and Subtraction: Finally, perform the addition and subtraction from left to right.

If you follow the order of operations correctly, you will arrive at the correct result!