Confused by PEMDAS? You’re not alone.
Here’s the no-nonsense, real-world guide to understanding the order of operations once and for all, finally make sense of parentheses, exponents, and all that chaos.
🌀 Math Problems Feel Like a Trap, Right?
You’re cruising through a math worksheet, and then BAM!:
5 + 3 × (2^2 – 1) ÷ 2
Cue the panic.
Do you add first?
Multiply?
Deal with the parentheses?
What’s with the little floating number?
And why is this one problem taking 20 minutes?
Here’s the truth: math isn’t hard, it’s just not explained well.
So let’s clear up one of the most confusing (and most important) concepts in basic math: PEMDAS.
🙃 First of All…What Is PEMDAS?
PEMDAS is a rule that tells you the correct order to solve a math problem when there’s more than one operation going on.
It’s an acronym that stands for:
P – Parentheses
E – Exponents
M – Multiplication
D – Division
A – Addition
S – Subtraction
In short: You follow this order from top to bottom when solving.
🔍 Why Does the Order Matter?
Let’s look at an example:
What’s the answer to 3 + 4 × 2?
If you do the math from left to right:
3 + 4 = 7, then 7 × 2 = 14 ❌
BUT if you follow PEMDAS:
Do the multiplication first: 4 × 2 = 8,
Then add: 3 + 8 = 11 ✅
The correct answer is 11, not 14.
So yeah… the order definitely matters.
🧠 The Easy Way to Remember It
Old-school teachers love this one: “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally.”
It’s cute. But if she still hasn’t helped you pass math, let’s make it more relatable: “Pizza Every Monday, Delicious And Saucy.” (You’re welcome.)
✅ PEMDAS Step-by-Step (With Examples)
Let’s break it down with an actual problem: 6 + (3 × 2)^2 ÷ 3 – 1
Follow the PEMDAS order:
1️⃣ Parentheses
Solve inside the ( ) first:
3 × 2 = 6
Now the problem is:
6 + 6^2 ÷ 3 – 1
2️⃣ Exponents
Solve 6^2 = 36
Now we have:
6 + 36 ÷ 3 – 1
3️⃣ Multiplication & Division (Left to Right)
Only division here:
36 ÷ 3 = 12
Now:
6 + 12 – 1
4️⃣ Addition & Subtraction (Left to Right)
6 + 12 = 18
18 – 1 = 17
✅ Final answer: 17
😅 What If There Are Multiple Parentheses?
Good question. PEMDAS still applies, but you start with the innermost parentheses and work your way out.
It’s like peeling layers of an onion (without the tears).
Example:
2 × [(3 + 1) × (5 – 2)]
(3 + 1) = 4, (5 – 2) = 3
Now it’s: 2 × [4 × 3]
Inside the brackets: 4 × 3 = 12
Multiply: 2 × 12 = 24
Done. Clean. Logical. Painless.
👀 Watch Out for These PEMDAS Mistakes
❌ Doing all multiplication before division
❌ Doing all addition before subtraction
❌ Forgetting to simplify parentheses FIRST
❌ Skipping exponents altogether
❌ Doing the steps right but in the wrong order = wrong answer anyway
Your calculator doesn’t think like you, it thinks in PEMDAS. So beat it at its own game 😏
🎓 How to Get Better at PEMDAS (Without Losing Your Mind)
Write out each step. Don’t try to do it all in your head.
Highlight or circle operations in order before solving.
Practice problems backwards, start with the final answer and reverse-engineer how to get there.
Use an AI tutor (hi 👋🏽) to walk through your steps and fix mistakes in real-time.
🚨 Want Help Breaking Down Confusing Problems?
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