5.OA.1

Standard

Use parentheses, brackets, or braces in numerical expressions, and evaluate expressions with these symbols.

Student Language:

"I can use parentheses and brackets in expressions."

Explanation

About the Math, Learning Targets, and Rigor

This standard builds on the expectations of third grade where students are expected to start learning the conventional order. First, students use these symbols with whole numbers. Then the symbols can be used as students add, subtract, multiply and divide decimals and fractions. This is the foundation for evaluating numerical and algebraic expressions that will include whole-number exponents in Grade 6.

Begin with expressions that have two operations without any grouping symbols (multiplication or division combined with addition or subtraction) before introducing expressions with multiple operations. After students have evaluated expressions without grouping symbols, present problems with one grouping symbol, beginning with parentheses, then in combination with brackets and/or braces. Have students write numerical expressions in words without calculating the value. This is the foundation for writing algebraic expressions. Then, have students write numerical expressions from phrases without calculating them.

Common Misconceptions: Students may believe the order in which a problem with mixed operations is written is the order to solve the problem. The use of mnemonic phase “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally” to remember the order of operations (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction) can also mislead students to always perform multiplication before division and addition before subtraction.