Unit+1+-+Fundamentals+of+Algebra

Orders of Operations




 * **Order of Operations** || [[image:http://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/vol5/images/tab.gif width="40" height="2"]][[image:http://www.mathgoodies.com/images/toc_vol7.gif width="300" height="60"]] || **[|Unit 7]** ||

3 + 4 x 2 || ||
 * Problem: || Evaluate the following arithmetic expression:
 * [[image:http://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/vol7/images/tab.gif width="10" height="3" caption=" "]] ||^   ||
 * Solution: ||  ||   || **Student 1** ||   ||   ||   || **Student 2** ||
 * 3 + 4 x 2 ||^  ||^   ||^   || 3 + 4 x 2 ||
 * =7 x 2= ||^  ||^   ||^   || 3 + 8 ||
 * =14= ||^  ||^   ||^   || 11 ||   ||   ||


 * It seems that each student interpreted the problem differently, resulting in two different answers. Student 1 performed the operation of addition first, then multiplication; whereas student 2 performed multiplication first, then addition. When performing arithmetic operations there can be only one correct answer. We need a set of rules in order to avoid this kind of confusion. Mathematicians have devised a standard order of operations for calculations involving more than one arithmetic operation. ||

> || **Rule 1:** || First perform any calculations inside parentheses. || > || **Rule 2:** || Next perform all multiplications and divisions, working from left to right. || > || **Rule 3:** || Lastly, perform all additions and subtractions, working from left to right. ||
 * The above problem was solved correctly by Student 2 since she followed Rules 2 and 3. Let's look at some examples of solving arithmetic expressions using these rules. ||


 * Example 1: || Evaluate each expression using the rules for order of operations. ||
 * [[image:http://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/vol7/images/tab.gif width="10" height="3" caption=" "]] ||
 * Solution: ||  |||||| ** Order of Operations ** ||
 * **Expression** || **Evaluation** || **Operation** ||
 * 6 + 7 x 8 || = 6 + **7 x 8** || Multiplication ||
 * ^  || = 6 + 56 || Addition ||
 * ^  || = 62 ||   ||
 * 16 **÷** 8 - 2 || = **16** ÷ **8** - 2 || Division ||
 * ^  || = 2 - 2 || Subtraction ||
 * ^  || = 0 ||   ||
 * (25 - 11) x 3 || = **(25 - 11)** x 3 || Parentheses ||
 * ^  || = 14 x 3 || Multiplication ||
 * ^  || = 42 ||   ||   ||


 * In Example 1, each problem involved only 2 operations. Let's look at some examples that involve more than two operations. ||


 * Example 2: || Evaluate 3 + 6 x (5 + 4) **÷** 3 - 7 using the order of operations. ||
 * [[image:http://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/vol7/images/tab.gif width="10" height="3" caption=" "]] ||
 * Solution: ||  || Step 1: || 3 + 6 x **(5 + 4)** **÷** 3 - 7 || = || 3 + 6 x 9 **÷** 3 - 7 || Parentheses ||
 * Step 2: || 3 + **6 x 9** **÷** 3 - 7 || = || 3 + 54 **÷** 3 - 7 || Multiplication ||
 * Step 3: || 3 + **54** ÷ **3** - 7 || = || 3 + 18 - 7 || Division ||
 * Step 4: || **3 + 18** - 7 || = || 21 - 7 || Addition ||
 * Step 5: || 21 - 7 || = || 14 || Subtraction ||  ||


 * Example 3: || Evaluate 9 - 5 **÷** (8 - 3) x 2 + 6 using the order of operations. ||
 * [[image:http://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/vol7/images/tab.gif width="10" height="3" caption=" "]] ||
 * Solution: ||  || Step 1: || 9 - 5 **÷** **(8 - 3)** x 2 + 6 || = || 9 - 5 **÷** 5 x 2 + 6 || Parentheses ||
 * Step 2: || 9 - **5** ÷ **5** x 2 + 6 || = || 9 - 1 x 2 + 6 || Division ||
 * Step 3: || 9 - **1 x 2** + 6 || = || 9 - 2 + 6 || Multiplication ||
 * Step 4: || **9 - 2** + 6 || = || 7 + 6 || Subtraction ||
 * Step 5: || 7 + 6 || = || 13 || Addition ||  ||


 * In Examples 2 and 3, you will notice that multiplication and division were evaluated from left to right according to Rule 2. Similarly, addition and subtraction were evaluated from left to right, according to Rule 3. ||


 * When two or more operations occur inside a set of parentheses, these operations should be evaluated according to Rules 2 and 3. This is done in Example 4 below. ||


 * Example 4: || Evaluate 150 **÷** (6 + 3 x 8) - 5 using the order of operations. ||
 * [[image:http://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/vol7/images/tab.gif width="10" height="3" caption=" "]] ||
 * Solution: ||  || Step 1: || 150 **÷** (6 + **3 x 8**) - 5 || = || 150 **÷** (6 + 24) - 5 || Multiplication inside Parentheses ||
 * Step 2: || 150 **÷** **(6 + 24)** - 5 || = || 150 **÷** 30 - 5 || Addition inside Parentheses ||
 * Step 3: || **150** ÷ **30** - 5 || = || 5 - 5 || Division ||
 * Step 4: || 5 - 5 || = || 0 || Subtraction ||  ||


 * Example 5: || Evaluate the arithmetic expression below: ||
 * || [[image:http://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/vol7/images/ops_example5.gif width="43" height="38"]] ||
 * [[image:http://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/vol7/images/tab.gif width="10" height="3" caption=" "]] ||
 * Solution: || This problem includes a fraction bar (also called a vinculum), which means we must divide the numerator by the denominator. However, we must first perform all calculations above and below the fraction bar BEFORE dividing. ||
 * ||  || Thus || [[image:http://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/vol7/images/ops_example5_step2.gif width="120" height="41"]] ||   ||
 * || Evaluating this expression, we get: ||
 * || [[image:http://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/vol7/images/ops_example5_step5.gif width="202" height="41"]] ||

=32 + 45= 77 ||
 * Example 6: || Write an arithmetic expression for this problem. Then evaluate the expression using the order of operations. ||
 * || Mr. Smith charged Jill $32 for parts and $15 per hour for labor to repair her bicycle. If he spent 3 hours repairing her bike, how much does Jill owe him? ||
 * [[image:http://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/vol7/images/tab.gif width="10" height="3" caption=" "]] ||
 * Solution: || 32 + 3 x 15 = 32 + **3 x 15**
 * [[image:http://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/vol7/images/tab.gif width="10" height="3" caption=" "]] ||
 * || Jill owes Mr. Smith $77. ||


 * Summary: || When evaluating arithmetic expressions, the order of operations is: * Simplify all operations inside parentheses.
 * Perform all multiplications and divisions, working from left to right.
 * Perform all additions and subtractions, working from left to right. ||
 * || If a problem includes a fraction bar, perform all calculations above and below the fraction bar before dividing the numerator by the denominator. ||

Exercises

 * Directions: Complete each exercise by applying the rules for order of operations. Click once in an ANSWER BOX and type in your answer; then click ENTER. After you click ENTER, a message will appear in the RESULTS BOX to indicate whether your answer is correct or incorrect. To start over, click CLEAR. ||

ANSWER BOX: RESULTS BOX: ||
 * **1.[[image:http://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/vol7/images/tab.gif width="10" height="1" caption=" "]]** || **9 + 6 x (8 - 5)**

ANSWER BOX: RESULTS BOX: ||
 * **2.[[image:http://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/vol7/images/tab.gif width="10" height="1" caption=" "]]** || **(14 - 5) ÷ (9 - 6)**

ANSWER BOX: RESULTS BOX: ||
 * **3.[[image:http://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/vol7/images/tab.gif width="10" height="1" caption=" "]]** || **5 x 8 + 6 ÷ 6 - 12 x 2**

ANSWER BOX: RESULTS BOX: ||
 * **4.[[image:http://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/vol7/images/tab.gif width="10" height="1" caption=" "]]** || [[image:http://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/vol7/images/ops_exercise4.gif width="61" height="38"]]

ANSWER BOX: $ RESULTS BOX: ||
 * **5.[[image:http://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/vol7/images/tab.gif width="10" height="1" caption=" "]]** || **A caterer charges a setup fee of $50, plus $20 per person. How much will the caterer charge if 35 people attend the party, and the customer has a coupon for $100 off the total?**

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