Order of Operations

Definitions
Numerical Expression: Two or more numbers
joined by operations such as addition,
subtraction, multiplication and division.
Variable Expression: An expression containing
one or more variables.
Exponent: A small number written in the upper
right hand corner next to a number or variable
telling you how many times to multiply the
number by itself.
Order of Operations: The correct sequence of
executing mathematical operations to insure you
reach a correct answer.
Order of Operations
A mathematical expression MUST be
evaluated in a proper order to yield a
correct result.
The proper order to evaluate a
mathematical expression is:
Terms in Parentheses
Terms with Exponents
Terms being Multiplied
Terms being Divided
Terms being Added
Terms being Subtracted
Allows evaluate items inside
parentheses FIRST.
Note: Treat each expression within the
parentheses as a separate expression then
substitute the solution back into the original
expression.
Order of Operations
Example
? )
2
6
( 2) (4 = +
2 ) 2 4 ( =
3 )
2
6
( =
5 3 2 = +
Order of Operations
When dealing with sets
of parentheses with a set
of parentheses inside
another set of
parentheses do the most
imbedded set of
parentheses FIRST.
Order of Operations
After evaluating all terms in
parentheses, evaluate all
terms with exponents.
Example
____ )
2
6
( ) 2 4 ( 2
2 3
= + +
2 ) 2 4 ( = 3 )
2
6
( =
____ ) 3 ( ) 2 ( 2
2 3
= + +
8 2
3
= 4 ) 2 (
2
=
15 ) 3 ( 4 8 = + +
( )
2 2 2
6 30
1) 12
9 3
2) 5 2 8+5 15
7(14) 3(6)
3)
2
4) 5(3 2) 2(6 5 )
+
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(

+
Order of Operations
Class work
Order of Operations
After evaluating all terms in
parentheses and with exponents,
do the multiplication and the
division in the expression, going
from left to right.
______
4
) 4 8 (
2 3 ) 3 6 (
2
2 2
=

+ x
3 ) 3 6 ( = 4 ) 4 8 ( =
______
4
) 4 (
2 3 ) 3 (
2
2 2
= + x
9 ) 3 (
2
= 16 ) 4 (
2
= 4 2
2
=
______
4
16
4 3 9 = + x
12 4 3 = x
4
4
16
=
17 4 12 9 = +
Example
Order of Operations
You add and subtract terms in an
expression only after evaluating
all terms in parentheses and with
exponents and after doing the
multiplication and the division in
the expression.
NOTE: ALL of these
rules also apply to
terms you evaluate
inside of parentheses.
Order of Operations
Example
2
2
2
(1 3)
3 2 (3 1) 5 2 4 _____
(6 2 )
x x
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+ + =

Notice:You have parentheses inside of

parentheses.
4 ) 1 3 ( = + 2 ) 3 1 ( =
2 ) 4 6 ( ) 2 6 (
2
= =
_____ 4 2 5
) 2 (
2
) 2 (
2
) 4 ( 2 3 =

+
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x x
Order of Operations
Example: continued
_____ 4 2 5
) 2 (
4
16 2 3 = +
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x x
32 16 2 = x
2
2
4
=
10 2 5 = x
_____ 4 10 ) 2 32 3 ( = +
33 ) 2 32 3 ( = +
19 4 10 33 =
16 ) 4 (
2
= 4 ) 2 (
2
=
Order of Operations
The order of operations also applies to
work done with variable expressions.
Example
Evaluate the follow expression when n =10.2,
p = 6, and r = 0.8
rp + n
3

(6)(0.8) + (10.2)
3

(6)x(0.8) = 4.8 (10.2)
3
= 1061.208
4.8 + 1061.208 = 1066.008
Order of Operations
Evaluate the following expressions
where w = 16.
(w
2
+ 0) + 7 = _______
_____ 8
4
= w
w
_____ ) 2 (
4
1
= - w w
Evaluate the following expressions
where n = 10.2, p = 6, and r =0.8.
_______
3
=
+ +
p
r p n
_______ ) 3 ( 8 = + n r p
Order of Operations
Homework
Evaluate each of the following expressions.
2 2 ) 3 5 ( ) 1 + + 4 3 5 7 ) 2 - -
6 3 9 6 3 ) 3 + -
6 5 8 5 ) 4
3
+ -
2
3 ) 6 (3 ) 5 +
7 - 7.5) - (12 6 ) 6 -
5 ) 4 12 )( 3 - 8 ( ) 7 ) 2 . 0 5 . 0 ( 2.1 ) 8 +
10 2 5 4 20 ) 9 - - 3)] [5(2 125 ) 10 +
2
) 2 3 9 ( ) 3 8 )( 8 6 ( ) 11 + + ) 4 3(2 ) 12
2 2
+
) 5 17 (
2
1
50 ) 13 +
25 . 0 ) 3 . 0 6(0.2 ) 14 +
9 3
16
2) (6
) 15
2
- +
+
4
2(5)
6(4) - 8
) 16
2

3 ] 2 ) 4 (2 - [6 ) 17
2
+
3
2 2
2 -
2) - 2(3
4 - 6
) 18
(
(
(

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- +
8
5
6
5
5
3
2
1
5 ) 19 12
3
1
2
1
3
2
4
3
0) 2
(
(
(

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-
Variable Expressions
Definitions
Terms: The parts of a variable expression
separated by a mathematical operation.

Like Terms: The terms in a variable expression that
have the same variable.

Unlike Terms: The terms in a variable expression that
have different variables.

Simplify: Performing as many mathematical
operations as possible on a variable
expression leaving only unlike terms in the
expression.

Combining Like Terms:
Adding, subtracting, multiplying and/or
dividing all like variable terms
Examples
Variable Expressions
Addition and Subtraction
Simplify the following:
a a
3
2
3
1

a a )
3
2
(
3
1
+ a
(
(
(

+ )
3
2
(
3
1
a )
3
1
(
-3x +8y - 6y
-3x +8y + (-6)y -3x +[8 + (-6)]y -3x +2y
2.4st - (-7.1sy) - 10.8st
2.4st - (-7.1sy) + (-10.8)st [2.4 + (-10.8)]st - (-7.1sy)
(-8.4)st - (-7.1sy) (-8.4)st + (-1)(-7.1sy)
-8.4st + 7.1sy
Examples
Variable Expressions
Simplify the following then evaluate each
expression when m = -7 and p = 12 :
m - p + 3p
m + (-1)p + 3p m + [(-1) + 3]p m + 2p
(-7) + 2(12) (-7) + 24 17
7m - 5m - p + 3p
7m + (-5)m + (-1)p + 3p [7 + (-5)]m + [(-1) + 3]p
2m + 2p 2(-7) + 2(12) (-14) + (24) 10
Addition and Subtraction
Variable Expressions
Simplify the following:
-3r + r -6t - 6t
-0.9m + 1.3n - 4.6m 7xy - xy + xz
-3ab - 9ac + 11ab pq - 6rs - 3pq + 6rs
Simplify the following then evaluate each
expression when a = -4 and b = 11:
a - 6a -b + 3b

a - b + 2b - 9a
a
4
1
b) ( a
2
1
+ +
Variable Expressions
Multiplication and Division
Property of the Opposite of a Sum:
For all real numbers a and b,
-(a + b) = (-1)(a + b) = (-a) + (-b)
Examples
Simplify the following:
4(m + 7) 4(m) + 4(7) 4m + 28
-(2x + y) (-1)(2x) + (-1)(y) -2x + (-y) -2x - y
2
6 2 + x
2
6
2
2
+
x
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+
2
6
2
2
x
) 3 ( ) 1 ( + x
3 + x
42
16 7

y
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+
21
8
6
1
y
42
) 16 ( 7

+ y
21
8
6
+
y
Variable Expressions
Multiplication and Division
Examples
Simplify the following then evaluate each
expression when a = 6, b = -5 and
:
3
1
c =
-2(a + 7) (-2)a + (-2)7 (-2)a + (-14) -2a -14
-2(6) + (-14) (-12) + (-14) -26
4
12 4b

4
) 12 ( 4

+ b
4
) 12 (
4
4

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b
3 ) 1 ( + b
3 + b
3 ) 5 )( 1 ( + 3 5+ 8
9c(a + 10) (9c)a + (9c)10 9ac + 90c
9(6)( ) + 90( )
3
1
3
1
3
90
3
54
+ 18 + 30 48
Variable Expressions
Simplify the following:
2(5 + s) -3(x + )
-8(x - y)
Simplify the following then evaluate each
expression when x = -3, y = 7 and z = 0.5:
3(z - 0.7) (11 - y)
6
1
2
6 2 d
7 . 0
5 . 3 2 . 4 w
3
15 12

+ y x
2
1

3
9 2 x
9
3

+x y
Variable Expressions
Simplifying Complex Variable Expression
Examples
Simplify the following:
2(x + 3) + 3(x + 4)
(2)x + (2)3 + (3)x + (3)4 2x + 6 + 3x + 12
2x + 3x + 6 + 12 5x + 18
3(ab - a) - 3(b + a)
3(ab + (- a)) + (- 3)(b + a)
(3)ab + (3)(- a) + (- 3)b + (-3)a
3ab + (-3a) + (- 3b) + (-3a)
3ab + (-3a) + (-3a) + (- 3b)
3ab + (-3 + (-3))a + (- 3b)
3ab + (-6)a - 3b 3ab - 6a - 3b
Variable Expressions
Homework
Simplify each of the following.
1) 2x + 5y + 9x 2) a - 9b + 6a
3) 2p + 3q + 5p + 2q 4) 3j + 4k + 2h + 6k
5) 6 - 3xz + 4(xz + y) 6) 3(2pq + 3r) - 4pq
7) 0.5x + 0.2y + x 8) 2(2e + f) + 3f + 1
9) 3 + 2(r + s) - 2r 10) r + 3s + 5r - s
11) 6k
2
- 6k - k
2
+ 9k 12) 4p + 3(3p - 5) + 5
13) 9 + 3(xy + 2y) + xz 14) 5(0.6m + 0.4n) + m
15) 4(2a - b) + 2(a + 2b) 16) (x - y) + (2x - 3y)
Fractions
Why does everyone hate fractions?
Actually, fractions are our friends!
A fraction is nothing more than a
simply stated division problem.
For example:
4 3 as same e exactly th is
4
3

Additionally, there are a few simple
rules that make adding, subtracting,
multiplying and dividing fractions very
easy.
Fractions
Understanding a Fraction
Before you can do anything to a fraction you
need to know a few basics.
5
2
1) The parts of a fraction
Numerator
Denominator
2) Anything divided by itself is equal to 1.
1
1 4
1 4
5
5
3 2
3 2
=
+
+
= =
yz x
yz x
a
a
Fractions
Addition and Subtraction
There is one and only one rule for adding and
subtraction fractions.
1) You can only add or subtract
the numerators of two or more
fractions if the denominators are
identical.
5
3
5
1
5
2
= +
m
b a
m
b a
m
b a
35
2 2 8

35
3 5
35
5 3 3
+
=
+
+
+
Fractions
What happens if the denominators
are not the same?
?
3
2
2
1
= +
Does anyone remember how
to do this or have an idea
what needs to be done?
Fractions
What happens when you
multiply anything by the
number 1?
? 1
2
1
= -
Can we change the way
the number 1 looks?
Fractions
1 3 2 2
?
2 3 3 2
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+ =
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\ . \ .
By multiplying each fraction by the number in
the form a fraction we can get both fractions to
have the same denominator.
3 4
?
6 6
+ =
Now that the denominators are the same we can
add the numerators to get our answer.
3 4 7 1
1
6 6 6 6
+ = =
Use the same method for Subtraction as well.
Fractions
Add or subtract the following.
4 1
1)
7 3
+ =
2 3
2)
5 4
+ =
1 3
3)
2 10
+ =
1 3
4)
4 8
+ =
5 7
5)
6 9
+ =
7 2
6)
10 3
+ =
4 1
7)
5 3
=
10 1
8)
11 2
=
5 1
9)
6 12
=
4 3
10)
5 4
=
11 1
11)
12 3
=
7 1
12)
8 4
=
Fractions
Homework
Add or subtract the following.
10 29
1)
15 30
+ =
5 1
2)
18 3
+ =
2 8
3)
5 15
+ =
2 1
4)
9 7
+ =
3 1
5)
11 3
+ =
6 17
6)
24 18
+ =
6 2
7)
7 35
=
10 2
8)
11 3
=
46 2
9)
75 15
=
7 2
10)
12 9
=
14 3
11)
35 10
=
9 8
12)
10 45
=
Multiplying Fractions
Multiplying fractions is the easiest of all
operations with fractions.

You multiply the numerators to get the
new numerator and then you multiply
the denominators to get the new
denominator. When you finish
multiplying then simplify the new
fraction.
3 2 6 1
4 3 12 2
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= =
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Fractions
Rules to Remember:

1)Integers are fractions with a
denominator of 1.




2)Convert mixed fractions to
improper fractions before
multiplying.
5
5
1
=
4 24
4
5 5
=
Fractions
Example:
Simplify the following:
2 4
3 1
3 5
11 9
3 5
99 33 3
6
15 5 5
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=
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=
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= =
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Fractions
Example:
Simplify the following:
2
2 2
2 6 12
5 7 35
2 1
2 3
3 4
8 13 (8)(13)
( )( )
3 4 (3)(4)
(8)(13) 26 2
( )( ) 8
(3)(4) 3 3
t t t
x x
x x x x
x x x x
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=
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\ .\ .
=============
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=
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=
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= =
Fractions
Practice:
Simplify the following:
7 3
1)
9 7
1 1
2) 2 1
5 11
7 2
3) 3 2
8 3
1 2
4) 5 4
7 3
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Fractions
Dividing fractions is almost as easy as
multiplying fractions.

You flip the fraction you are dividing by,
making it the reciprocal and then you
multiply the two fractions.
3 2
4 3
3 3 9 1
1
4 2 8 8
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=
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= =
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Fractions
Example:
Simplify the following:
2 4
3 1
3 5
11 9
3 5
11 5 55 1
1
3 9 27 27
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=
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\ . \ .
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=
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= =
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\ .\ .
2
Fractions
Example:
Simplify the following:
2 6
5 7
2 7
5 6
14 7
30 15
t t
t
t
t
t
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=
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\ . \ .
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=
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\ .\ .
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=
|
\ .
2
2 1
2 3
3 4
8 4 1
3 1 13
(8)(4) 1
(3)(13) 1
32
39
x x
x
x
x
x
x
| | | |
=
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\ . \ .
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=
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\ .\ .
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=
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\ .\ .
=
Fractions
Example:
Simplify the following:
Fractions
Practice:
Simplify the following:
6 4
1)
11 11
1 1
2) 1 2
6 3
1 3
3) 4 1
5 4
1 7
4) 6
8 3
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Fractions
Homework:
Simplify the following:
Simplifying Fractions
Practice:
Simplifying Fractions
Practice:
Simplifying Fractions
Converting Mixed Numbers
To
Improper Fractions
5
13
8
You read this as
5
13
8
+
The way you read it is the KEY to converting
the mixed fraction to an improper fraction.
Simplifying Fractions
Converting Mixed Numbers
To
Improper Fractions
5
13
8
+
Multiply the whole number by the denominator
and the add it to the numerator and put the sum
all over the denominator
( )
13 8 5 104 5 109
5 109
13
8 8
- + = + =
=
Simplifying Fractions
Converting Mixed Numbers
To
Improper Fractions
For a negative mixed number you take the
negative sign out, convert the mixed number
the same way you would a positive mixed
number and then put the negative sign back
with the improper fraction.
2
11
5
2
11
5

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+
|
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Simplifying Fractions
Converting Mixed Numbers
To
Improper Fractions
( )
11 5 2 55 2 57
2 57
-12
5 5
- + = + =

=
Practice:
Convert the following to
Improper Fractions
4
1) 23
9
3
2) -17
7
1
7 3 5 1
1) 5 3 2) 4 5
9 4 7 6
11 23 5 5
3) 7 4 4) 7 2
12 36 11 121
7 3 3 5
5) 6 7 6) 8 2
12 5 5 6
7 13 5
7) 9 8 8) 9
12 48
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+ +
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+ +
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\ . \ . \ . \ .
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+
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31
6
7 49
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Fractions
Add or subtract the following.