Operations are the actions taken to solve math problems: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, grouping (placing values in parentheses), and exponentiation (multiplying the same number to itself a certain number of times). Order of Operations was developed to make sure operations in a problem are completed in a particular order to achieve the correct result.

The Order of Operations (PEMDAS) 

  1. Parentheses
  2. Exponents
  3. Multiplication
  4. Division
  5. Addition
  6. Subtraction

Multiplication does not outrank Division, and Addition does not outrank Subtraction. Instead, the order is determined by what operation appears first going from left to right.

Example

pemdas