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Order of OperationsArithmetic Order of Operations (BEDMAS)
Note that − a = 0 − a = ( − 1)× a, and a − b = a + ( − b ) Order of Operations When evaluating numerical or algebraic expressions, we need to know the order in which addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and exponents are carried out. For all numerical or algebraic expressions, the order of evaluation is ( BEDMAS ):
If an expression involves two or more operations at the same level of priority, those operations are done from left to right. Example 1A.Click on the question marks to see the following examples done step-by-step. Keep the following order of operations in mind when studying these examples:
Example 1B.When brackets occur within brackets, solve the expression inside the inner-most brackets first. [4 + 2(3 + 2 × 4)] ÷ 2 = [4 + 2(3 + 8)] ÷ 2 = [4 + 2(11)] ÷ 2 = [4 + 22] ÷ 2 = 26 ÷ 2 = 13
Example 1C.When a quotient is written as a ratio the numerator and the denominator are evaluated first. That is, we treat the numerator and denominator as if they were inside brackets. For example,
Example 1D.To calculate -a2, first find the square of a, a2. Then take its negative. So -a2 is the negative of a2. To calculate (-a)2, square -a. For example, -32 = -9. But (-3)2 = 9. (While the above is the correct order of operations, note that
Excel evaluates -a2 as (-a)2.) Exercise 1.Now try some of these exercises:
If an expression involves functions such as , ex, ln(x), sin(x) or cos(x) they have to be evaluated first, before they can be raised to a power, multiplied, divided, added or subtracted. They are given First Priority. Example 2.
Exercise 2.Now try some of these exercises. (The notation sqrt(a) is used for Order of Operations Index | Evaluating Algebraic Expressions >>
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