Why Does Order Matter?

When solving problems with more than one operation, you can’t just go left to right! There’s a special order to follow so everyone gets the same answer.

The Magic Order

1. Do anything inside parentheses ( )
2. Do multiplication and division, left to right
3. Do addition and subtraction, left to right

You can remember this order with the letters PEMDAS:

• Parentheses
• Exponents (not covered here)
• Multiplication and Division
• Addition and Subtraction

Example Problem

Try to solve \( 2 + 3 \times 4 \). If you do addition first, you get one answer. If you do multiplication first, you get another! That’s why the order matters.

Real-World Connection

Following the right order helps you solve puzzles, play games, and even read recipes correctly!