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BasicMathSkills AddSubtractDecimals InverseOperations
ComplementarySupplementary MultiplyDecimals NumberProperties
item8 Exponents OrderofOperations-GEMA1
VerticalAngles FactorTrees item3
AreaofPolygons Fractions ProportionsRatios
AreaofParallelogram AddSubtractFractions Quadrilaterals1
AreaofRectangle multiplyfractions RationalNumbers
AreaofSquare dividefractions SieveofEratosthenes
AreaofTrapezoid lowesttermsfractions
AreaofTriangle mixednumbers
Homework1
BezierCurves
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CirclesandPi Integers ClassNews
Circumference AddSubtractIntegers item24
AreaofCircle MultiplyDivideIntegers item17
grasshopper1c Order Matters! Order of Operations

Order of operations refers to the order in which you 'do the math.' It is a convention (agreement or generally-accepted standard) for how the math is done.

Why have a 'convention' for

Here's the deal: you want consistency in math, right?

Simplify this expression without a calculator.

8 + 4 • 3

Now, try it with a calculator.

Did you end up with two different answers? Probably, right? Why is this? Hmm…Let me explain!

If we go strictly with the notation (written), then we need to have a convention or an agreed-upon order in how to simplifying the expression and the real reason is because of the Distributive Property! Multiplication has 'power over' addition so if you have any multiplication in an expression, you need to group and do these. A-ha!

So, then the above problem should be simplified as:

8 + 4 • 3
General Convention: GEMA vs. PEMDAS

The generally accepted convention for order of operations is to do all operations within parenthesis first followed by exponential notation, multplication then division (left-to-right), and addition and subtraction from left-to-right.

The acronym PEMDAS (Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally) was designed to help students remember this conventional 'order'as they simplified expressions: parenthesis - exponents - multiplication - division - addition - subtraction.

A similar acronym, BEMDAS (Brackets Exponents Multiplication Division Addition Subtraction) is the same thing but with the B exchanged for the P for parenthesis.

An acronym that I prefer is GEMA (Grouping Exponents Multiplication Addition). Now, why did I not include division and subtraction in my acronym? It's simple~we are always using the inverse of these operations when simplifying expressions in pre-algebra so it is a 'given,' as far as I am concerned so why nit-pick over a letter or two? You should have this ingrained by now and the acronym is simply to help remind you that order matters.

grasshopper1c1

If you need an additional reminder, then the grasshopper should do it:

Grasshoppers Eat Most Anything

Using GEMA

Let's see how we use GEMA to simplify a problem or two.

Simplify each of the following:

12  –  3

Step #1: Grouping

Check for grouping symbols aka the Distributive Property.

Do the math within any grouping symbols. ( ) [ ] { } | |

12  –  3
(4 • x ) +

no grouping symbols

4 x   +

Step #2: Exponents

Next, come the exponents.

12  –  3

no exponents

no exponents

12  –  3

Step #3: Multiplication/Division

Any multiplication/division is done next from left-to-right.

12  –  3

no multiplication—done in grouping section

Step #4: Addition/Subtraction

Last comes all addition/subtraction from left-to-right.

12  –  3 4 x   +
19 4 x  +

©2009–2016 Sherry Skipper Spurgeon.

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