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Dec 22, 2025

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2 pages

Understanding PEMDAS: Guide to Order of Operations

Ved Sanjanwala

@veddude

Ready to master math like a pro? Order of Operations... Show more

# Introduction to Order of Operations and PEMDAS for Middle Schoolers
Understanding the Basics: Order of Operations
In math, the order of op

Understanding PEMDAS: Your Math Problem-Solving Roadmap

Ever wondered why different people might get different answers to the same math problem? That's where the order of operations comes in! Think of it as the traffic rules of math - everyone needs to follow the same sequence to reach the right destination.

PEMDAS is your easy-to-remember guide for solving math problems in the correct order:

P - Parentheses first (solve everything inside these curved brackets)
E - Exponents (like squaring a number)
M/D - Multiplication and Division (moving from left to right)
A/S - Addition and Subtraction (also from left to right)

Let's see PEMDAS in action with a simple example: 5 + (2×3) - 4

First, solve what's inside the parentheses: (2×3) = 6
No exponents here, so we move on
Our equation is now: 5 + 6 - 4
Working left to right: 5 + 6 = 11, then 11 - 4 = 7

Pro Tip: Remember that multiplication and division have equal priority (do them left to right), and the same goes for addition and subtraction. Many students make mistakes by always doing multiplication before division!

Mastering PEMDAS with Practice

Let's try another example: 8 - 2 × (4 + 1)

Parentheses: (4 + 1) = 5
No exponents in this problem
Multiplication: 2 × 5 = 10
Subtraction: 8 - 10 = -2

Parentheses are super powerful in math! They tell us which parts of the problem to solve first. Compare 2 × (3 + 4) and 2 × 3 + 4. The first gives us 2 × 7 = 14, while the second gives us 6 + 4 = 10. Totally different answers!

When practicing PEMDAS, try connecting it to real life. If you're calculating the cost of 3 video games at $20 each, plus a$ 5 controller, you'd write 3 × $20 +$ 5. Following PEMDAS gives you $65, which is the right total!

Brain Boost: Create your own math problems using PEMDAS. Start simple, then challenge yourself by adding more operations. This is a fun way to check if you really understand the order of operations!

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Arithmetic

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Dec 22, 2025

•

2 pages

Understanding PEMDAS: Guide to Order of Operations

Ved Sanjanwala

@veddude

Ready to master math like a pro? Order of Operations is your step-by-step guide for solving math problems correctly every time. Using PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction) helps you tackle equations in the right sequence and get the correct answer.

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Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Understanding PEMDAS: Your Math Problem-Solving Roadmap

PEMDAS is your easy-to-remember guide for solving math problems in the correct order:

P - Parentheses first (solve everything inside these curved brackets)
E - Exponents (like squaring a number)
M/D - Multiplication and Division (moving from left to right)
A/S - Addition and Subtraction (also from left to right)

Let's see PEMDAS in action with a simple example: 5 + (2×3) - 4

First, solve what's inside the parentheses: (2×3) = 6
No exponents here, so we move on
Our equation is now: 5 + 6 - 4
Working left to right: 5 + 6 = 11, then 11 - 4 = 7

Pro Tip: Remember that multiplication and division have equal priority (do them left to right), and the same goes for addition and subtraction. Many students make mistakes by always doing multiplication before division!

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Mastering PEMDAS with Practice

Let's try another example: 8 - 2 × (4 + 1)

Parentheses: (4 + 1) = 5
No exponents in this problem
Multiplication: 2 × 5 = 10
Subtraction: 8 - 10 = -2

Brain Boost: Create your own math problems using PEMDAS. Start simple, then challenge yourself by adding more operations. This is a fun way to check if you really understand the order of operations!