MATH

PEMDAS Rules and Operations on Real Numbers

P E MD AS

WHICHEVER COMES FIRST WHICHEVER COMES FIRST

PEMDAS RULES

Calculate in the following order.

1. The expressions inside the Parentheses.

2. The expression with Exponents.
3. If no operation separates Multiplication and Division, perform from left hand side to right
whichever comes first.
4. If no operation separates Addition and Subtraction, perform from left hand side to right
whichever comes first.

EXAMPLES:

Example A: 𝟒 + 𝟑 × 𝟓

*Perform multiplication first before addition since M comes before A in PEMDAS.

Multiply: 4 + 3 x 5 = 4 + 15
Add: 4 + 15 = 19
Answer: 19

Example B: (𝟑 + 𝟑) × 𝟓

*Simplify the expression inside the parenthesis first before multiplying since P
comes before M in PEMDAS.

Parenthesis: (3 + 3) x 5 = 6 x 5
Multiply: 6 x 5 = 30
Answer: 30
Example C: 𝟖 + × 𝟒𝟐 × 𝟑

* Simplifying the expression with exponent first, the multiply, and then add.

Exponent: 8 + 4# x 3 = 8 + 16 x 3
Multiply: 8 + 16 x 3 = 8 + 48
Add: 8 + 48
Answer: 56

Example D: 𝟑 × 𝟒 + 𝟔 × 𝟐 − 𝟓

* Perform multiplication simultaneously, add, and then subtract.

Multiply: 3 x 4 + 6 x 2 – 5 = 12 + 12 – 5
Add: 12 + 12 – 5 = 24 – 5
Subtract: 24 – 5 = 19
Answer: 19

Example D: (𝟒 + 𝟓) × (𝟖 − 𝟐)𝟐 ÷ 𝟐

* Perform the operations inside the parentheses simultaneously, simplify the

operation with exponent, multiply, and then divide.
2
Parentheses: (4 + 5) x (8 – 2)2÷ 2 = 9 x 6 ÷ 2
Exponent: 9 x 62÷ 2 = 9 x 36 ÷ 2
Multiplication: 9 x 36 ÷ 2 = 324 ÷ 2
Divide: 324 ÷ 2 = 162
Answer: 162

Example E: (𝟓 + 𝟖)𝟐 − 𝟏𝟖 ÷ 𝟔 × 𝟐
2 2
Parenthesis: (5 + 8) – 18 ÷ 6 x 2 = 13 – 18 ÷ 6 x 2
Exponent: 132– 18 ÷ 6 x 2 = 169 – 18 ÷ 6 x 2
*Divide: 169 – 18 ÷ 6 x 2 = 169 – 3 x 2
*Multiply: 169 – 3 x 2 = 169 – 6
Subtract: 169 – 6 = 163
Answer: 163
COMMON MISTAKES In PEMDAS

I have placed * in the division and multiplication operations in the last example above because
this is one of the misconceptions of a lot of people. Many think that since M comes before D,
multiplication must always be performed first before division.

That is NOT ALWAYS the case.

If multiplication and division operations are NOT SEPARATED by other operations or grouping
symbols, you must simplify from the left-hand side to the right-hand side whichever operation
comes first. For example, the expression 6 ÷ 3 x 2 has no +, – or () in between. So, what is the
answer? If your answer is 4, you are correct. Why?

Notice that if multiplication is performed first, then the expression becomes 6 ÷ 6 = 1. But the
correct answer is 4 because 6 ÷ 3 = 2 and 2 x 2 = 4. Try to key in the expression 6 ÷ 3 x 2 in a
calculator and then press the equal sign. You will get the answer 4.

EXERCISE: Solve and input the correct answer

1. 2 × 3 + 4 × 6

2. (−3)(2) + 18 ÷ 3

3. 4 + (6 − 2)# + 1

4. 8 (6 − 2) ÷ 2(5 − 3)

5. (−12)(−3) + 8#

6. 4 ÷ 5 × 25 + 2

!"($%&)
7.
!$(!$!&)

8. 4 (3 + 1) − 2(5 − 2)

!"
9.
#$#"


$! !(!
10.
!)!&




11. −(−3) + 8 ÷ 4

12. 9# − 8 − 2$

13. (−7 − 9)(8 − 4) + 4$ ÷ 8

14. 6 + 3 × 2 − 12 ÷ 4

15. 7 × (3 + 2) − 5





































ANSWER KEY

1. 2 × 3 + 4 × 6

Solution:

Multiply: 2 x 3 + 4 x 6 = 6 + 24
Add: 6 + 24 = 30
Answer: 30

2. (−3)(2) + 18 ÷ 3

Solution:

Multiply: (-3)(2) + 18÷ 3 = -6 + 18÷ 3
Divide: -6 + 18÷3 = -6 + 6
Add: -6 + 6 = 0
Answer: 0

3. 4 + (6 − 2)# + 1

Solution:

2 2
Parenthesis: 4 + (6 – 2) + 1 = 4 + 4 + 1
2
Exponent: 4 + 4 + 1 = 4 + 16 + 1
Add: 4 + 16 + 1 = 21
Answer: 21

4. 8 (6 − 2) ÷ 2(5 − 3)

Solution:

Parenthesis: 8(6 – 2) ÷ 2(5 – 3) = 8(4) ÷ 2(2)
Multiply: 8(4) ÷ 2(2) = 32 ÷ 2(2)*
Divide: 32 ÷ 2(2)= 16(2)
Multiply: 16(2) = 32
Answer: 32

*This is the case mentioned in the PEMDAS Rules that when multiplication and
division are performed consecutively (without any other operations or grouping symbols in
between), then perform the operations from the left hand side to the right hand side.





(−12)(−3) + 8 #
5.


Solution:

2
Exponent: (-12)(-3) + 8 = (12)(-3) + 64
Multiply: (-12)(-3) + 64= 36 + 64
Add: 36 +64 = 100
Answer: 100

6. 4 ÷ 5 × 25 + 2

Solution:

Divide: 4÷5 x 25 + 2 = 0.8 x 25 + 2*
Multiply: 0.8 x 25 + 2 = 20 + 2
Add: 20 + 2 = 22
Answer: 22

*This is the case mentioned in the PEMDAS Rules that when multiplication and division are
performed consecutively (without any other operations or grouping symbols in between),
the perform the operations from the left hand side to the right hand side.

!"($%&)
7.
!$(!$!&)

Solution:

Compute for the numerator:

Parenthesis: -9(2 + 1) = -9(3)
Multiply: -9(3) = -27

Compute for the denominator:

Parenthesis: -2(-2 – 1) = -2(-3)
Multiply: -2(-3) = 6

Divide the numerator by the denominator: -27/6 = -4.5






8. 4 (3 + 1) − 2(5 − 2)

Solution:

Parenthesis: 4(3 + 1) – 2(5 -2) = 4(4) – 2(3)
Multiply: 4(4) – 2(3) = 16 – 6
Subtract: 16 – 6 = 10
Answer: 10

!"
9.
#$#"


Solution

Denominator: -3 – 4 = -7

Divide the numerator by the denominator: 14 ÷ -7 = -2

Answer: -2

$! !(!
10.
!)!&

Solution

Compute for the numerator:

2 2
Exponent: 2 – 4 = 4 – 16
Subtract: 4 – 16 = -12

Compute for the denominator: – 3 – 1 = -4

Divide the numerator by the denominator: -12 ÷ -4 = 3

Answer: 3

11. −(−3) + 8 ÷ 4

Solution:

We know that -(-3) = 3 because negative multiplied by negative is positive, so we
only have two operations to perform.

Divide: -(-3) + 8 ÷ 4 = 3 + 2
Add: 3 + 2 = 5
Answer: 5

12. 9# − 8 − 2$

Solution:

2 3
Exponent: 9 – 8 – 2 = 81 – 8 – 8
Subtract: 81 – 8 – 8= 73 – 8
Subtract: 73 – 8 = 65
Answer: 65

13. (−7 − 9)(8 − 4) + 4$ ÷ 8

Solution:

3 3
Parenthesis: (-7 – 9) (8 – 4) + 4 ÷ 8 = (-16)(4) + 4 ÷ 8
3
Exponent: (-16)(4) + 4 ÷ 8 = (-16)(4) + 64 ÷ 8
Multiply: (-16)(4) + 64 ÷ 8 = -64 + 64 ÷ 8
Divide: -64 + 64 ÷ 8 = -64 + 8
Add: -64 + 8 = 56
Answer: -56

14. 6 + 3 × 2 − 12 ÷ 4

Solution:

Multiply: 6 + 3 x 2 – 12÷4 = 6 + 6 – 12÷4
Divide: 6 + 6 – 12÷4 = 6 + 6 – 3

Perform Addition and Subtraction from left to right: 6 + 6 – 3 = 9

Answer: 9

15. 7 × (3 + 2) − 5

Solution:

Parenthesis: 7 x (3 + 2) – 5 = 7 x 5 – 5
Multiply: 7 x 5 – 5 = 35 – 5
Subtract: 35 – 5 = 30
Answer: 30