In mathematics and computer programming, the order of operations is a collection of rules that reflect conventions about which procedures to perform first in order to evaluate a given mathematical expression.
The order of operations are the rules that tell us the sequence in which we should solve an expression with multiple operations.
PEMDAS:
- Parentheses
- Exponents
- Multiplication, and Division (from left to right)
- Addition and Subtraction (from left to right)
It is also referred to as GEMDAS and BODMAS. They all mean to do the same thing.
GEMDAS:
- G: Grouping
- E: Exponents
- M/D: Multiplication and division in order from left to right
- A/S: Addition and subtraction in order from left to right
BODMAS:
- B: Brackets
- O: Order (powers or roots)
- D: Division
- M: Multiplication
- A: Addition
- S: Subtraction
If you need a little more involved approach you can watch the following series.
Order of Operations | PEMDAS | 5th Grade Math (Part 1)
Order of Operations | 5th Grade Math (Part 2)
Here are some viral math problems so easily solved using PEMDAS. You may have seen some of these on Facebook or Twitter.
Looking through comments you'll see people (like myself) "yelling" PEMDAS! PEMDAS! and then writing out the full explanation.
Sometimes it blows my mind the answers people come up with and how they are so confident in their wrong answers.
8÷2(2+2) = ? Mathematician Explains The Correct Answer
6÷2(1+2) = ? Correct Answer Explained By Mathematician
