Section 1.4 Notes
Order of Operations

Key Rules

To evaluate an expression involving more than one operation, use the following order:

  1. First do operations that occur within symbols of grouping.
  2. Then evaluate powers.
  3. Then do multiplications and divisions from left to right.
  4. Finally do additions and subtractions from left to right.

Also, if you know the value for variable, you can substitute it in first.

Example

Evaluate Equation:    42 ÷ 3 + 32 · (12 - 8) + 3

42 ÷ 3 + 32 · (12 - 8) + 3
 First do the operations in the parentheses.
42 ÷ 3 + 32 · 4 + 3 Then evaluate the powers.
42 ÷ 3 + 9 · 4 + 3 Then do multiplications and divisions from left to right.
14 + 9 · 4 + 3 Continue to do multiplications and divisions from left to right:
14 + 36 + 3
 Then do additions and subtractions from left to right.
50 + 3
 Continue to do additions and subtractions from left to right.
53
 Done

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