The Order of Operations is a set of rules designed to show you how to solve equations and problems that have more than one step to them. Often, the mnemonic device PEMDAS is used to help remember the steps to follow and the correct order.
P - Parentheses are always solved first until only a number or symbol is left inside.
E - Exponents are next, solve these until you have a whole number instead of an operation.
M or D - Multiplication or Division should be solved based on what comes first in the problem, reading left to right.
A or S - Addition or Subtraction should be solved last, again based on what comes first when reading left to right.
Take the problem below as an example. There were no parentheses to solve for, so skip that step. There were exponents, multiplication, division, addition and subtraction, all done in the correct order.
P - Parentheses are always solved first until only a number or symbol is left inside.
E - Exponents are next, solve these until you have a whole number instead of an operation.
M or D - Multiplication or Division should be solved based on what comes first in the problem, reading left to right.
A or S - Addition or Subtraction should be solved last, again based on what comes first when reading left to right.
Take the problem below as an example. There were no parentheses to solve for, so skip that step. There were exponents, multiplication, division, addition and subtraction, all done in the correct order.
Often, when you are just getting familiar with the procedure, it will help if you set your problems up vertically and solve downward, using PEMDAS as you go, just like is shown above. That way, you can do each step as it come, without worrying about running out of room.