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Order of Operations

(1) Symbols of inclusion ( ), [ ], { }


Do innermost first and work outward.
(2) Exponents, radicals, absolute value, and other functions
(3) Multiplication and division work from left to right
(4) Addition and subtraction work from left to right

Note: When division is written in fraction form, simplify numerator and denominator
separately and then divide.

A
Note: = A ( BC ) = A B C
BC

Example 1: 12 3 4 = Multiplication and division are on the same


4 4 = 16 level, so work from left to right.

Example 2: 3[5 + 2(3 2 2 )] =


3[5 + 2(3 4)] = Innermost grouping symbol first, exponents
before subtraction.
3[5 + 2( 1)] = Outer grouping symbol next, multiplication
3[5 + ( 2)] = before addition.
3 3 = 9

2(3 2 ) 4(2)
Example 3: = Simplify numerator and denominator
4 3 2
separately; in numerator, exponents before
multiplication and subtraction.
2(9) 4(2)
=
4 3 2

18 8
= Multiplication before subtraction .
46

10
=5 Since division was represented in fraction
2
form, division of numerator by denominator
is done last.

1
Practice Sheet- Order of Operations
Simplify using the order of operations:

(1) ( 8) 11 ( 5) + 7 =

(2) 6 + 5 2 =

(3) 4( 2) + 3(5) =

(4) (5 11) (6 3) =

(5) 2(1 4) + 3( 2 7) =

(6) 6 4 8 =

(7) 32 8 4 =

(8) 48 3 2 2 =

(9) 2(2) 2 3(2) 6 =

(10) 4 3 2 + 12 3 =

(11) 5 + 3[ 2 + 3 2] =

12 + 8
(12) =
42

62 3 4
(13) =
32 1

(14) 32 + 4 2 =

(15) 2 3
8+4 9 =

(16) 3 2 4(3) + 5 =

2
Solution Key for Order of Operations

(1) 7 (10) 40

(2) 16 (11) 29

(3) 7 (12) 10

(4) 9 (13) 3

(5) 21 (14) 5

(6) 3 (15) 16

(7) 16 (16) -16

(8) 64

(9) 8

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