1510 - Order of Operations

Problem:	Evaluate the following arithmetic expression: 3 + 4 x 2
Solution:	Student 1 Student 2 3 + 4 x 2 3 + 4 x 2 = 7 x 2 = 3 + 8 = 14 = 11

When two students look at a problem differently, they can come up with two different answers.

The 1st student added first and then multiplied, the 2cnd student multiplied first and then added. When we do a math problem, we can only have one right answer. Mathematicians have created a standard order of operations for math problems involving more than one arithmetic operation.

P.E.M.D.A.S.
Parenthesis | Exponents | Multiplication | Division | Addition | Subtraction

1. Perform the operations inside a parenthesis first
2. Then exponents
3. Then multiplication and division, from left to right
4. Then addition and subtraction, from left to right

 Student #2 has the correct answer because she followed the order of operations.

I usually find information that pertains more to the elementary age student, but had to share this video of perhaps the coolest middle school math teacher ever.