{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T13:42:33+00:00","modifiedTime":"2016-03-26T13:42:33+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:06:19+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Math","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33720"},"slug":"math","categoryId":33720},{"name":"Basic Math","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33722"},"slug":"basic-math","categoryId":33722}],"title":"Following the Order of Operations","strippedTitle":"following the order of operations","slug":"following-the-order-of-operations","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"When arithmetic expressions get complex, use the order of operations (also called the order of precedence) to simplify them. Complex math problems require you t","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"<p>When arithmetic expressions get complex, use the order of operations (also called the <i>order of precedence)</i> to simplify them. Complex math problems require you to perform a combination of operations — addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division — to find the solution. The order of operations simply tells you what operations to do first, second, third, and so on.</p>\n<p>Evaluate arithmetic expressions from left to right, according to the following order of precedence: </p>\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Parentheses</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Exponents</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Multiplication and division</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Addition and subtraction</p>\n </li>\n</ol>\n<p class=\"Remember\">Following the order of operation is important; otherwise, you'll end up with the wrong answer. Suppose you have the problem 9 + 5 × 7. If you follow the order of operations, you see that the answer is 44. If you ignore the order of operations and just work left to right, you get a completely different — and wrong — answer:</p>\n<blockquote>9 + 5 × 7 = 9 + 35 = 44 RIGHT</blockquote>\n<blockquote>9 + 5 × 7 = 14 × 7 = 98 WRONG!</blockquote>","description":"<p>When arithmetic expressions get complex, use the order of operations (also called the <i>order of precedence)</i> to simplify them. Complex math problems require you to perform a combination of operations — addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division — to find the solution. 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If you ignore the order of operations and just work left to right, you get a completely different — and wrong — answer:</p>\n<blockquote>9 + 5 × 7 = 9 + 35 = 44 RIGHT</blockquote>\n<blockquote>9 + 5 × 7 = 14 × 7 = 98 WRONG!</blockquote>","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9399,"name":"Mark Zegarelli","slug":"mark-zegarelli","description":" <b>Mark Zegarelli</b> is a professional writer with degrees in both English and Math from Rutgers University. He has earned his living for many years writing vast quantities of logic puzzles, a hefty chunk of software documentation, and the occasional book or film review. Along the way, he’s also paid a few bills doing housecleaning, decorative painting, and (for ten hours) retail sales. 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Following the Order of Operations

By: Mark Zegarelli and

Updated: 03-26-2016

From The Book: Basic Math & Pre-Algebra For Dummies

Basic Math & Pre-Algebra For Dummies

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When arithmetic expressions get complex, use the order of operations (also called the order of precedence) to simplify them. Complex math problems require you to perform a combination of operations — addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division — to find the solution. The order of operations simply tells you what operations to do first, second, third, and so on.

Evaluate arithmetic expressions from left to right, according to the following order of precedence:

Parentheses
Exponents
Multiplication and division
Addition and subtraction

Following the order of operation is important; otherwise, you'll end up with the wrong answer. Suppose you have the problem 9 + 5 × 7. If you follow the order of operations, you see that the answer is 44. If you ignore the order of operations and just work left to right, you get a completely different — and wrong — answer:

9 + 5 × 7 = 9 + 35 = 44 RIGHT

9 + 5 × 7 = 14 × 7 = 98 WRONG!

About This Article

This article is from the book:

Basic Math & Pre-Algebra For Dummies ,

About the book author:

Mark Zegarelli is a professional writer with degrees in both English and Math from Rutgers University. He has earned his living for many years writing vast quantities of logic puzzles, a hefty chunk of software documentation, and the occasional book or film review. Along the way, he’s also paid a few bills doing housecleaning, decorative painting, and (for ten hours) retail sales. He likes writing best, though.

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