Compass Math Sample

ORDER OF OPERATIONS

• To evaluate an expression , use the following steps in order:
1) Evaluate numbers with exponents
2) Perform multiplication and division in order from left to right
3) Perform additions and subtractions in order from left to right
• This can be more simply written as:
1) Exponents
2) Multiplication and division
3) Additions and subtractions
Ex.: Evaluate: 3 + 2 · 6
1) Evaluate exponents

3 + 2 · 6 (no exponents)
2) Evaluate multiplications and divisions

3 + 12
3) Evaluate additions and subtractions

15
Ex.: Evaluate: 4 + 3 · 2 ³ – 2 · 3 ²
1) Evaluate exponents

4 + 3 · 8 – 2 · 9
2) Evaluate multiplications and divisions

4 + 24 – 18
3) Evaluate additions and subtractions

10

Rules of Order
Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally
1) Parentheses
2) Exponents
3) Multiplication and/or division from left to right
4) Addition and/or Subtraction from left to right

Parentheses to Change the Order of Operations:
One of the main uses of parentheses in math is to change the order in which operations
are performed.
• Evaluate operations inside the parentheses first.
Ex.: Evaluate: 3 + 2 · (4 + 5)
1) Evaluate parentheses 3 + 2 · 9
2) Evaluate order of operations 3 + 18 = 21
Ex.: Evaluate: (3 + 4)(3 + 2 · 4)
1) Evaluate parentheses (3 + 4)(3 + 8)
2) Evaluate order of operation 7 · 11 = 77