Lesson 1 #22

For this problem, there are multiple operations to be performed.  When there is more than one operation, you need to use the correct order of operations when you carry out the operations or else you may get an incorrect answer.

The order of operations is PEMDAS

Parentheses (Parentheses are not an operation.  They are an indicator to perform some other operation that is in parentheses first)

Exponents

Multiplication/Division (from left to right whichever comes first)

Addition/Subtraction (from left to right whichever comes first)

Sometimes it is useful to start by identifying how many and what type of operations you need to perform.  This will keep you from jumping in and performing the first operation you see.

The 5 operations that need to be performed are circled below.

Order:  

1.  Exponent

2.  Division (is to the left of multiplication)

3. Multiplication

4.  Addition

5. Addition

The work below shows the operation being performed in each step.  Notice that if you divided first, you would have gotten the same result.  This is not always the case!!!  Make sure to carefully follow the order even though sometimes it isn't necessary.  There would be a very long list of when it doesn't matter when you do an operation out of order.  It's easier to just  to always follow the order of operations which always works.