Order of Operations - Practice

This math unit progresses through various skills centered around understanding and applying the order of operations in arithmetic expressions. Initially, the unit introduces students to identifying the correct sequence of basic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) from verbal descriptions and simple numeric expressions, laying a foundational grasp of operational precedence without the inclusion of multiplication or division. It then advances to incorporating parentheses, emphasizing the importance of handling operations inside brackets before those outside. As the unit progresses, the inclusion of exponents alongside all basic operations challenges students further, requiring them to apply a more complex hierarchy of operations in their calculations. The problems increasingly incorporate more elements like multiple operators and parentheses in single expressions, culminating in exercises that combine addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and exponents. Each worksheet gradually builds on the previous skills, moving from simple to complex scenarios, ultimately helping students gain a robust and comprehensive understanding of executing the correct order of operations across a variety of mathematical situations. The use of the BEDMAS acronym reinforces this knowledge, ensuring students can recall and apply these rules effectively.