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Examples
Patti says the expression 12÷2×3 is equivalent to 18 because she works each operation from left to right. Gladys says the expression 12÷2×3 is equivalent to 2 because first multiplies 2×3 then divides 6 into 12. David says that Patti is correctly using order of operations and suggests that if parentheses were added, it would give more clarity.Clarifications
Clarification 1: Multi-step expressions are limited to any combination of arithmetic operations, including parentheses, with whole numbers, decimals and fractions.Clarification 2: Within this benchmark, the expectation is not to include exponents or nested grouping symbols.
Clarification 3: Decimals are limited to hundredths. Expressions cannot include division of a fraction by a fraction.
Benchmark Instructional Guide
Connecting Benchmarks/Horizontal Alignment
Terms from the K-12 Glossary
- Expression
- Order of Operations
Vertical Alignment
Previous Benchmarks
Next Benchmarks
Purpose and Instructional Strategies
The purpose of this benchmark is for students to use the order of operations to evaluate numerical expressions. In grade 4, students had experience with numerical expressions involving all four operations (MA.4.AR.2.1, MA.4.AR.2.2), but the focus was not on order of operations. In grade 6, students will be evaluating algebraic expressions using substitution and these expressions can include negative numbers (MA.6.AR.1.3).- Begin instruction by exposing student to expressions that have two operations without any grouping symbols, before introducing expressions with multiple operations. Use the same digits, with the operations in a different order, and have students evaluate the expressions, then discuss why the value of the expression is different.
- In grade 5, students should learn to first work to simplify within any parentheses, if present in the expression. Within the parentheses, the order of operations is followed. Next, while reading left to right, perform any multiplication and division in the order in which it appears. Finally, while reading from left to right, perform addition and subtraction in the order in which it appears.
- During instruction, students should be expected to explain how they used the order of operations to evaluate expressions and share with others. To address misconceptions around the order of operations, instruction should include reasoning and error analysis tasks for students to complete (MTR.3.1, MTR.4.1, MTR.5.1).
Common Misconceptions or Errors
- When students learn mnemonics like PEMDAS to perform the order of operations, they can confuse that multiplication must always be performed before division, and likewise addition before subtraction. Students should have experiences solving expressions with multiple instances of procedural operations and their inverse, such as addition and subtraction, so they learn how to solve them left to right.
Strategies to Support Tiered Instruction
- Instruction includes opportunities to solve expressions with multiple instances of procedural operations and their inverse, explicitly teaching the order of operations with an emphasis on the left to right order to solving multiplication and division, and addition and subtraction. Students use models or drawings as they solve.
- For example, the teacher displays the following problem: 62 − 8 × 4 + 3 − (18 ÷ 9). The teacher reviews the order of operations, reminding students that they must work to simplify within the parentheses first. The teacher then prompts students to multiply and divide from left to right next. Then, students are prompted to add and subtract from left to right and reminded that adding and subtracting fall within the same step. So, they will need to subtract 62 − 32 to get 30 and then add 30 + 3. The teacher repeats with additional expressions containing multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction in a variety of orders.
- Instruction includes manipulatives to practice solving expressions with multiple instances of procedural operations and their inverse, such as addition and subtraction, so they learn how to solve them left to right. Instruction also includes explicitly teaching the order of operations with an emphasis on the left to right order to solving multiplication and division, and addition and subtraction. Students use manipulatives as they solve.
- For example, display the following problem: 5 − 10 ÷ 5 + (2 × 3). The teacher reviews the order of operations, reminding students that they must work to simplify within the parentheses first. The teacher prompts students to multiply and divide from left to right next. Then, prompts students to add and subtract from left to right. Finally, the teacher reminds students that adding and subtracting falls within the same step, so they will need to subtract 5 − 2 before they add +6. This is repeated with additional expressions containing multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction in a variety of orders.
Instructional Tasks
Instructional Task 1 (MTR.4.1)
The two equations below are very similar. Are both equations true? Why or why not?
Instructional Task 2 (MTR.5.1)
Part A. Insert one set of parentheses around two numbers in the expression below. Then evaluate the expression.
Part B. Now insert one set of parentheses around a different pair of numbers. Then evaluate this expression.
Instructional Items
Instructional Item 1
What is the value of the numerical expression below:
Instructional Item 2
A numerical expression is evaluated as shown.In which step does the first mistake appear
- a. Step 1: × (15 + 1) − 2
- b. Step 2: × 14
- c. Step 3:
- d. Step 4: 7
*The strategies, tasks and items included in the B1G-M are examples and should not be considered comprehensive.
Related Courses
Related Access Points
Related Resources
Formative Assessments
Lesson Plans
Original Student Tutorials
Problem-Solving Tasks
Tutorials
Virtual Manipulative
STEM Lessons - Model Eliciting Activity
In this Model Eliciting Activity, MEA, the students will determine the best ad for a tennis shoe company.
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem, while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought process. MEAs follow a problem-based, student centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEA’s visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx
MFAS Formative Assessments
Students are asked to evaluate two similar expressions and explain why the answers are different.
Students are asked to insert parentheses into an expression in two different ways, evaluate each way, and explain why the answers are different.
Original Student Tutorials Mathematics - Grades K-5
Learn to evaluate expressions that have all four operations (multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction) and parentheses as you settle debates in this interactive tutorial.
Computer Science Original Student Tutorials
Construct efficient lines of code using condition- and if-statements to solve equations as you complete this interactive tutorial. You'll also review the order of operations in expressions.
This is part 2 of a 4-part series on coding. Click below to open the other tutorials in the series.
Learn how to perform instructions using an if statement and explore relational operators (less than, greater than, equal and not equal to) and how they are used to compare to values in this interactive tutorial.
Learn how to use repeat loops in this interactive tutorial. Repeat loops iterate though a list of instructions based on a desired number of times. Combined with variables, condition statements, if statements, and repeat loops we practice using order of operations to code.
This is part 1 of a 4-part series. Click below to check out the other tutorials in the series.
Student Resources
Original Student Tutorials
Learn how to use repeat loops in this interactive tutorial. Repeat loops iterate though a list of instructions based on a desired number of times. Combined with variables, condition statements, if statements, and repeat loops we practice using order of operations to code.
This is part 1 of a 4-part series. Click below to check out the other tutorials in the series.
- Bee A Coder Part 1: Declare Variables
- Bee A Coder Part 2: Condition Statements
- Bee A Coder Part 3: If Statements
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn how to perform instructions using an if statement and explore relational operators (less than, greater than, equal and not equal to) and how they are used to compare to values in this interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Construct efficient lines of code using condition- and if-statements to solve equations as you complete this interactive tutorial. You'll also review the order of operations in expressions.
This is part 2 of a 4-part series on coding. Click below to open the other tutorials in the series.
- Bee A Coder Part 1: Declare Variables
- Bee A Coder Part 3: If Statements
- Bee A Coder Part 4: Repeat Loops
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Learn to evaluate expressions that have all four operations (multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction) and parentheses as you settle debates in this interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Problem-Solving Task
This problem asks the student to evaluate six numerical expressions that contain the same integers and operations yet have differing results due to placement of parentheses. This type of problem helps students to see structure in numerical expressions. In later grades they will be working with similar ideas in the context of seeing and using structure in algebraic expressions.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
Tutorials
This Khan Academy tutorial video presents the impact of parentheses notation in an expression. As the tutorial does the same problem with and without parenthesis, negative numbers are part of the solution.
Type: Tutorial
In this video, you will see why it is important to have one agreed upon order of operations.
Type: Tutorial
Virtual Manipulative
In this activity, students practice solving algebraic expressions using order of operations. The applet records their score so the student can track their progress. This activity allows students to practice applying the order of operations when solving problems. This activity includes supplemental materials, including background information about the topics covered, a description of how to use the application, and exploration questions for use with the java applet.
Type: Virtual Manipulative
Parent Resources
Problem-Solving Tasks
The purpose of this game is to help students think flexibly about numbers and operations and to record multiple operations using proper notation. Students eager to knock down all of the pins quickly develop patterns in their expressions. They may re-use parts of an expression, perhaps changing just the final operation.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
This problem asks the student to evaluate six numerical expressions that contain the same integers and operations yet have differing results due to placement of parentheses. This type of problem helps students to see structure in numerical expressions. In later grades they will be working with similar ideas in the context of seeing and using structure in algebraic expressions.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
