ORDER OF OPERATIONS

Concept: When an algebraic expression contains several operations, you must follow the order of operations.

ORDER OF OPERATIONS

STEP 1 | Do operations inside parentheses or brackets. Multiply and divide inside parentheses or brackets first. Then add and subtract inside parentheses or brackets.
STEP 2 | Find the values of powers (exponents) and square roots.
STEP 3 | Multiply and divide from left to right.
STEP 4 | Add and subtract from left to right.

Example 32 + (– 4) (2) – (4 + 6 x 3)

STEP 1 | Do operations inside parentheses. Multiply first. | 32 + (–4) (2) – (4 + 6 x 3)
|  | 32 + (–4) (2) – (4 + 18)
| Continue doing operations inside parentheses. Add. | 32 + (–4) (2) – (4 + 18)
|  | 32 + (–4) (2) – (22)
STEP 2 | Find the value of powers. | 32 + (–4) (2) – (+22)
|  | (3 x 3) + (–4) (2) – (+22)
|  | (9) + (–4) (2) – (+22)
STEP 3 | Multiply. | (9) + (–4) (2) – (+22)
|  | (9) + (–8) – (+22)
Step 4 | Add and subtract, from left to right. | 9 + (–8 ) – (+22)
|  | 1 – (+22)
|  | 1 – (+22)
|  | = –21