7th Grade · Expressions & Equations
Order of Operations
7.EE.B.3
Definition
The rules specifying which operations to perform first: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division (left to right), Addition/Subtraction (left to right).
Examples
- 2 + 3 × (8 - 5)² : parentheses first (8-5=3), then exponent (3²=9), then multiply (3×9=27), then add (2+27=29).
- PEMDAS gives the order: P, E, M/D, A/S.
Key rule
Do the operations in order, top to bottom — parentheses, exponents, multiply/divide, add/subtract.
Memory hook
PEMDAS, always in that order.