Stella Academy

elementary-math Module

Interactive Simulation Screen

SYS_OK

Lesson Directive // Order of OperationsREF_CORE

Grouping Symbols

PEMDAS:

P

E

M

D

A

S

Hover over a variable in the formula above, or see glossary below:

P

Parentheses

()

E

Exponents

x^y

M

Multiplication

D

Division

A

Addition

S

Subtraction

Any expression inside parentheses (), brackets [], or braces {} must be evaluated before anything outside of them. If there are nested symbols, evaluate from the inside out.

INSIGHT: Parentheses act as a VIP pass, moving the operation to the front of the line.

Exponents & Powers

After parentheses, evaluate any terms with exponents or roots. These represent repeated multiplication, so they carry more weight than standard multiplication.

INSIGHT: Exponents are resolved before basic arithmetic operations.

Left-to-Right Operations

Multiplication and Division share the same priority. Evaluate them from left to right. Then, Addition and Subtraction share the lowest priority, and are also evaluated from left to right.

INSIGHT: Do not multiply before dividing if the division comes first reading left-to-right.

●Telemetry Control Console

CAL_SYS

Adjust Simulator Parameters

Syllabus Worked Example

Q: Evaluate the expression: 8 - 4 \div 2 + (1 + 1)^2

1.First, evaluate the expression inside the parentheses: (1 + 1) = 2. The expression is now 8 - 4 \div 2 + 2^2.

2.Next, evaluate the exponent: 2^2 = 4. The expression is now 8 - 4 \div 2 + 4.

3.Then, evaluate the division: 4 \div 2 = 2. The expression is now 8 - 2 + 4.

4.Finally, evaluate addition and subtraction from left to right: 8 - 2 = 6, then 6 + 4 = 10.

Result:= 10